TUZENBACH. And what has Aleko to do with it? [Pause.] SOLENI. When I’m with one other man I behave just like everybody else, but in company I’m dull and shy and... talk all manner of rubbish. But I’m more honest and more honourable than very, very many people. And I can prove it. TUZENBACH. I often get angry with you, you always fasten on to me in company, but I like you all the same. I’m going to drink my fill to-night, whatever happens. Drink, now! SOLENI. Let’s drink. [They drink] I never had anything against you, Baron. But my character is like Lermontov’s [In a low voice] I even rather resemble Lermontov, they say.... [Takes a scent-bottle from his pocket, and scents his hands.] TUZENBACH. I’ve sent in my resignation. Basta! I’ve been thinking about it for five years, and at last made up my mind. I shall work. SOLENI. [Declaims] “Do not be angry, Aleko... forget, forget, thy dreams of yore....” [While he is speaking ANDREY enters quietly with a book, and sits by the table.] TUZENBACH. I shall work. CHEBUTIKIN. [Going with IRINA into the dining-room] And the food was also real Caucasian onion soup, and, for a roast, some chehartma. SOLENI. Cheremsha [Note: A variety of garlic.] isn’t meat at all, but a plant something like an onion. CHEBUTIKIN. No, my angel. Chehartma isn’t onion, but roast mutton. SOLENI. And I tell you, chehartma--is a sort of onion. CHEBUTIKIN. And I tell you, chehartma--is mutton. SOLENI. And I tell you, cheremsha--is a sort of onion. CHEBUTIKIN. What’s the use of arguing! You’ve never been in the Caucasus, and never ate any chehartma. SOLENI. I never ate it, because I hate it. It smells like garlic. ANDREY. [Imploring] Please, please! I ask you! TUZENBACH. When are the entertainers coming? IRINA. They promised for about nine; that is, quite soon. TUZENBACH. [Embraces ANDREY] “Oh my house, my house, my new-built house.” ANDREY. [Dances and sings] “Newly-built of maple-wood.” CHEBUTIKIN. [Dances] “Its walls are like a sieve!” [Laughter.] TUZENBACH. [Kisses ANDREY] Hang it all, let’s drink. Andrey, old boy, let’s drink with you. And I’ll go with you, Andrey, to the University of Moscow. SOLENI. Which one? There are two universities in Moscow. ANDREY. There’s one university in Moscow. SOLENI. Two, I tell you. ANDREY. Don’t care if there are three. So much the better. SOLENI. There are two universities in Moscow! [There are murmurs and “hushes”] There are two universities in Moscow, the old one and the new one. And if you don’t like to listen, if my words annoy you, then I need not speak. I can even go into another room.... [Exit.] TUZENBACH. Bravo, bravo! [Laughs] Come on, now. I’m going to play. Funny man, Soleni.... [Goes to the piano and plays a waltz.] MASHA. [Dancing solo] The Baron’s drunk, the Baron’s drunk, the Baron’s drunk! [NATASHA comes in.] NATASHA. [To CHEBUTIKIN] Ivan Romanovitch!