SECOND. To be sure! Of course the walls were covered with paintings. Now it's all been let go to rack and ruin, and the old place is falling to pieces. There's been nothing done to it since the fire. But to be sure you don't remember that fire, it will be forty years ago. FIRST. Whatever's this picture here, old fellow? It's not easy to make out what it's about. SECOND. That's a picture of the torments of hell. FIRST. Oh! so that's what it is! SECOND. And there's folks of all sorts and conditions going down into the fire, see? FIRST. To be sure, yes, I understand it now. SECOND. Of every sort and rank. FIRST. And niggers too? SECOND. Yes, niggers too. FIRST. And I say, old fellow, what's this? SECOND. That's the Lithuanian invasion. A battle, d'ye see? Our men fighting with the men of Lithuania. FIRST. Who were these Lithuanians? SECOND. Can't say. Lithuanians, to be sure. FIRST. But they do say, you know, they fell down on us from heaven. SECOND. I can't tell about that, I daresay they did. A WOMAN. What ignorance! Why, everyone knows the Lithuanians fell from heaven. Well to be sure! and it was in memory of the battle with them that these mounds were made. FIRST. There, old fellow! That's so, you see! [_Enter Dikoy and Kuligin, his head bare. All the bystanders bow and assume a respectful air on seeing Dikoy._ SCENE II The Same, DIKOY and KULIGIN. DIKOY. Ugh, I'm wet through. (_To Kuligin_) Get away from me! Let me alone! (_Angrily_) Fool of a man! KULIGIN. Saviol Prokofitch, it would be conferring a benefit, your worship, on all the residents in the town. DIKOY. Go along! A mighty benefit! Who wants such a benefit? KULIGIN. And on you, indeed, your worship, Saviol Prokofitch. To be set up, for instance, on the parade in the open space. And as for expense,--the expense would be trifling: a stone column (_indicates the size of each thing by gestures_), a copper disc, round like this, and a pivot, an upright pivot (_shows, gesticulating_) of the simplest description. I will put it all up and carve the figures on the face myself too. And, your worship, when you are pleased to take a walk, or any other people are out walking, you will go up to it, and see at once what o'clock it is. As it is, it's a fine position and a fine view and all, but, as it were, it wants something. And we have visitors too, your worship, who come here to see our views, and it will always be an ornament,--a pleasant object for the eye to rest on. DIKOY. But why on earth do you come pestering me with every sort of idiocy? It's possible, don't you see, that I don't want to talk to you. You ought first to ascertain whether I am disposed to listen to you or not, you dolt. What am I to you? ... am I your equal, eh? Damn the fellow! A mighty clever idea he's hit upon! And then up he must come and straightway start holding forth upon it.