PETER SEMYÓNOVICH. And when will my better-half be back? Have you sent the coachman for her? MARY IVÁNOVNA. Yes, they went for her quite early; I expect she will be here soon. PRINCESS. Did Alexándra Ivánovna really go on purpose to fetch Father Gerásim? MARY IVÁNOVNA. Yes, the idea occurred to her yesterday, and she was off at once. PRINCESS. _Quelle énergie! Je l'admire._[26] [26] What energy, I do admire her. PETER SEMYÓNOVICH. _Oh, pour ceci, ce n'est pas ça qui nous manque._[27] [Takes out a cigar] But I will go and have a smoke and take a stroll through the park with the dogs till the young people are up. [Exit]. [27] Oh, as far as that goes, we are not lacking. PRINCESS. I don't know, dear Mary Ivánovna, whether I am right, but it seems to me that you take it all too much to heart. I understand him. He is in a very exalted state of mind. Well, even supposing he does give to the poor? Don't we anyway think too much about ourselves? MARY IVÁNOVNA. Yes, if that were all, but you don't know him; nor all he is after. It is not simply helping the poor, but a complete revolution, the destruction of everything. PRINCESS. I do not wish to intrude into your family life, but if you will allow me ... MARY IVÁNOVNA. Not at all--I look upon you as one of the family--especially now. PRINCESS. I should advise you to put your demands to him openly and frankly, and to come to an agreement as to the limits ... MARY IVÁNOVNA [excitedly] There are no limits! He wants to give away everything. He wishes me now, at my age, to become a cook and a washerwoman. PRINCESS. No, is it possible! That is extraordinary. MARY IVÁNOVNA [takes a letter out of her pocket] We are by ourselves and I am glad to tell you all about it. He wrote me this letter yesterday. I will read it to you. PRINCESS. What? He lives in the same house with you, and writes you letters? How strange! MARY IVÁNOVNA. No, I understand him there. He gets so excited when he speaks. I have for some time past felt anxious about his health. PRINCESS. What did he write?