MATRYONA. What do you mean, honey? Lord help you! Why are you turning it on to me? Mind, lass, don't go twisting matters from the sick on to the healthy. If anything were to happen, I stand aside! I know nothing! I'm aware of nothing! I'll kiss the cross on it; I never gave you any kind of powders, never saw any, never heard of any, and never knew there were such powders. You think about yourself, lass. Why, we were talking about you the other day. "Poor thing, what torture she endures. The step-daughter an idiot; the old man rotten, sucking her lifeblood. What wouldn't one be ready to do in such a case!" ANISYA. I'm not going to deny it. A life such as mine could make one do worse than that. It could make you hang yourself or throttle him. Is this a life? MATRYONA. That's just it. There's no time to stand gaping; the money must be found one way or other, and then he must have his tea. ANISYA. O-oh, my head, my head! I can't think what to do. I am so frightened; he'd better die of himself. I don't want to have it on my soul. MATRYONA (viciously). And why doesn't he show the money? Does he mean to take it along with him? Is no one to have it? Is that right? God forbid such a sum should be lost all for nothing. Isn't that a sin? What's he doing? Is he worth considering? ANISYA. I don't know anything. He's worried me to death. MATRYONA. What is it you don't know? The business is clear. If you make a slip now, you'll repent it all your life. He'll give the money to his sister and you'll be left without. ANISYA. O--oh dear! Yes, and he did send for her--I must go. MATRYONA. You wait a bit and light the samovar first. We'll give him some tea and search him together--we'll find it, no fear. ANISYA. Oh dear, oh dear; supposing something were to happen. MATRYONA. What now? What's the good of waiting? Do you want the money to slip from your hand when it's just in sight? You go and do as I say. ANISYA. Well, I'll go and light the samovar. MATRYONA. Go, honey, do the business so as not to regret it afterwards. That's right! [ANISYA turns to go. MATRYONA calls her back. MATRYONA. Just a word. Don't tell Nikita about the business. He's silly. God forbid he should find out about the powders. The Lord only knows what he would do. He's so tender-hearted. D'you know, he usen't to be able to kill a chicken. Don't tell him. 'Twould be a fine go, he wouldn't understand things. [Stops horror-struck as PETER appears in the doorway. PETER (holding on to the wall, creeps out into the porch and calls with a faint voice). How's it one can't make you hear? Oh, oh, Anisya! Who's there? [Drops on the bench. ANISYA (steps from behind the corner). Why have you come out? You should have stayed where you were lying. PETER. Has the girl gone for Martha? It's very hard.... Oh, if only death would come quicker! ANISYA. She had no time. I sent her to the river. Wait a bit, I'll go myself when I'm ready.