THIRD PEASANT. And I think it's all bosh. That time my foot was festering I had it doctored ever so long. I spent nigh on five roubles on it,--then I gave up doctoring, and it got all right! [DISCHARGED COOK on the oven coughs. JACOB. Ah, the old crony is here again! FIRST PEASANT. Who might that man be? JACOB. He used to be our master's cook. He comes to see Loukerya. FIRST PEASANT. Kitchen-master, as one might say. Then, does he live here? JACOB. No, they won't allow that. He's here one day, there another. If he's got a copper he goes to a dosshouse; but when he has drunk all, he comes here. SECOND PEASANT. How did he come to this? JACOB. Simply grew weak. And what a man he used to be--like a gentleman! Went about with a gold watch; got forty roubles a month wages. And now look at him! He'd have starved to death long ago if it hadn't been for Loukerya. [Enter SERVANTS' COOK with the sour cabbage. JACOB (to SERVANTS' COOK). I see you've got Paul Petrovitch here again? SERVANTS' COOK. And where's he to go to? Is he to go and freeze? THIRD PEASANT. What liquor does.... Liquor, let's say.... [Clicks his tongue sympathetically. SECOND PEASANT. Of course. A firm man's firm as a rock; a weak man's weaker than water. DISCHARGED COOK (gets off the oven with trembling hands and legs). Loukerya, I say, give us a drop! SERVANTS' COOK. What are you up to? I'll give you such a drop!... DISCHARGED COOK. Have you no conscience? I'm dying! Brothers, a copper.... SERVANTS' COOK. Get back on the oven, I tell you! DISCHARGED COOK. Half a glass only, cook, for Heaven's sake! I say, do you understand? I ask you in the name of Heaven, now! SERVANTS' COOK. Come along, here's some tea for you. DISCHARGED COOK. Tea; what is tea? Weak, sloppy stuff. A little vodka --just one little drop.... Loukerya! THIRD PEASANT. Poor old soul, what agony it is! SECOND PEASANT. You'd better give him some. SERVANTS' COOK (gets out a bottle and fills a wine-glass). Here you are; you'll get no more. DISCHARGED COOK (clutches hold of it and drinks, trembling all over). Loukerya, Cook! I am drinking, and you must understand.... SERVANTS' COOK. Now, then, stop your chatter! Get on to the oven, and let not a breath of you be heard! [The old COOK meekly begins to climb up, muttering something to himself. SECOND PEASANT. What it is, when a man gives way to his weakness! FIRST PEASANT. That's just it--human weakness. THIRD PEASANT. That goes without saying. [The DISCHARGED COOK settles down, muttering all the time. [Silence. SECOND PEASANT. I want to ask you something: that girl of Aksinya's as comes from our village and is living here. How is she? What is she like? How is she living--I mean, does she live honest? JACOB. She's a nice girl; one can say nothing but good of her.