NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. How d'you do, Alína;[22] and you, Peter Semyónovich. [To the Priest] Ah! Vasíly Nikanórych. [Shakes hands with them]. [22] Alína is an abbreviation, and a pet name, for Alexándra. ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. There is still some coffee left. Shall I give you a cup? It's rather cold, but can easily be warmed up. [Rings]. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. No, thank you. I have had something. Where is Mary? ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Feeding Baby. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Is she quite well? ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Pretty well. Have you done your business? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. I have. Yes. If there _is_ any tea or coffee left, I will have some. [To Priest] Ah! you've brought the book back. Have you read it? I've been thinking about you all the way home. Enter man-servant, who bows. Nicholas Ivánovich shakes hands with him. Alexándra Ivánovna shrugs her shoulders, exchanging glances with her husband. ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Re-heat the samovár, please. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. That's not necessary, Alína. I don't really want any, and I'll drink it as it is. Missy, on seeing her father, leaves her croquet, runs to him, and hangs round his neck. MISSY. Papa! Come with me. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [caressing her]. Yes, I'll come directly. Just let me eat something first. Go and play, and I'll soon come. Exit Missy. Nicholas Ivánovich sits down to the table, and eats and drinks eagerly. ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Well, were they sentenced? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Yes! They were. They themselves pleaded guilty. [To Priest] I thought you would not find Renan very convincing ... ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. And you did not approve of the verdict? NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [vexed]. Of course I don't approve of it. [To Priest] The main question for you is not Christ's divinity, or the history of Christianity, but the Church ... ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Then how was it? _They_ confessed their guilt, _et vous leur avez donné un démenti_?[23] They did not steal them--but only took the wood? [23] And you contradicted them. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH [who had begun talking to the priest, turns resolutely to Alexándra Ivánovna]. Alína, my dear, do not pursue me with pinpricks and insinuations. ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. But not at all ... NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. And if you really want to know why I can't prosecute the peasants about the wood they needed and cut down ... ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. I should think they also need this samovár. NICHOLAS IVÁNOVICH. Well, if you want me to tell you why I can't agree with those people being shut up in prison, and being totally ruined, because they cut down ten trees in a forest which is considered to be mine ... ALEXÁNDRA IVÁNOVNA. Considered so by everybody. PETER SEMYÓNOVICH. Oh dear! Disputing again.