_Oulìta._ Serafimoushka! I’d almost forgotten! There’s one more thing you must certainly do; now mind you don’t forget. When you’ve found out all about your lover, and are sure he’s not a spendthrift, or a drunkard, or a gambler, go to the wise woman, Paràsha. You must go in quietly, and ask: “Will God’s servant, Serafima, be happy with God’s servant”——what’s his name? _Serafima._ Paul. _Oulìta._ “With God’s servant, Paul?” And whatever she tells you, do accordingly. _Karp._ Don’t you do anything of the kind. _Oulìta._ Look here, Karp Kàrpych, I always obey you in everything; but this is not your business; it’s woman’s business! Don’t listen to him, Serafimoushka; do as I tell you. I’m your mother; I shan’t advise you wrong. _Serafima._ Very well. (_Rises._) Good-bye, mamma; good-bye, papa. (_Kisses them._) _Karp._ And listen here! You tell your lover that, if he behaves to me respectfully and properly, I’ll give him a good fur cloak; and if he doesn’t, I’ll take it away again. (_Exeunt._) PICTURE III.[14] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. PAUL. SERAFÌMA, _his wife_. MADAME PRÈZHNEV. A PERSON UNKNOWN, _a friend of Paul, middle-aged, with Greek profile and gloomy expression of face_. A MAID-SERVANT. A FOOTMAN. (_A richly-furnished study._ PAUL _sits at the table writing. Enter_ FOOTMAN.) _Foot._ Pàvel Petròvich, the tailor and carriage-builder are waiting. _Paul_ (_turning round_). Send them off! _Foot._ They won’t go, sir. _Paul._ Then tell them to come next week. _Foot._ I told them; but they won’t go. _Paul._ You surely don’t expect me to come out and speak to them myself? Tell them anything you like. You see I’m busy. You’re always disturbing me; be off with you! _Foot._ There’s a gentleman that asks to see you too, sir. _Paul._ Turn him out too. (_The person unknown comes in at the door. The_ FOOTMAN _sees him, and exit_.) _Unknown._ Turn Nature out at the door, she’ll come in at the window. _Paul_ (_rises_). Oh! my dear fellow! I didn’t know it was you; I really beg your pardon. _Unknown._ No; you didn’t know. (_Inspects Paul from head to foot; then begins examining the room._) _Paul._ Indeed I didn’t know. You don’t suppose I should have refused to see you? _Unknown_ (_sits down_). There, that’ll do, that’ll do. _Paul._ Won’t you have a cigar? _Unknown_ (_smiling ironically_). A cigar? And when am I to have the money? _Paul._ Very soon now. _Unknown._ Which do you mean by that—now? or very soon? _Paul._ Soon; quite soon. _Unknown._ You’ll pay it soon? (_Looks intently at_ _Paul_.) And supposing I don’t believe you? _Paul._ How can you help believing, when the document is in your hands? _Unknown._ That’s just it! The date in the document is up; and all this is not yours, but your wife’s. _Paul._ That’s all the same. _Unknown._ No; not all the same. _Paul._ Well, then, what do you want?