DIKOY. What! are you going to steal a fortune? Stop him! The false scoundrel! How ever is one to treat such people! I don't know. (_Turning to the crowd_) And you, damned rascals, you're enough to make anyone swear! Here I'd no wish to lose my temper, and he must needs go and put me out, as if it were on purpose. Curse the fellow! (_angrily_) Has the rain given over, eh? FIRST. I fancy it has. DIKOY. You fancy! go and see, you fool. Tell me, you fancy, indeed! FIRST (_going outside the arches_). It has left off! [_Dikoy goes out and all follow him. The scene is empty for a little while. Varvara runs quickly in under the arcade and, hiding herself, peeps out._ SCENE III VARVARA and later BORIS. VARVARA. I believe it's he! (_Boris advances from the background of the scene_.) Sss-sss! (_Boris looks round_.) Come here. (_She beckons, Boris goes up to her_.) What are we to do with Katerina? For mercy's sake tell me! BORIS. Why, what is it? VARVARA. It's terrible, that's all. Her husband has come back, do you know that? We didn't expect him, but he's here. BORIS. No, I didn't know it. VARVARA. She's simply beside herself. BORIS. It seems as if I had only lived for these ten short days that he has been away. And now not to see her! VARVARA. Oh, I've no patience with you! I've something to tell you! She's shaking all over, as if she were in a fever. She's so pale, she wanders about the house, as though she were looking for something. Her eyes are wild, she's like a mad thing! She began crying long ago in the morning, she simply sobs. Merciful Heavens, what am I to do with her? BORIS. But perhaps this will pass off. VARVARA. I doubt it. She daren't raise her eyes to her husband. Mamma's begun to notice it, and she follows her about and keeps a suspicious eye upon her. She looks daggers at her; and that makes her worse than ever. It makes one wretched to see her. And I'm afraid too. BORIS. What are you afraid of? VARVARA. You don't know her. She's a strange creature. One never knows what to expect from her! She will do things ... BORIS. My God! What's to be done? You must talk to her thoroughly. Can't you manage to soothe her? VARVARA. I've tried. She doesn't even hear. Better leave her alone. BORIS. Well, what do you suppose she may do? VARVARA. Why, simply this: fling herself down at her husband's feet, and tell him everything. That's what I'm afraid of. BORIS (_with horror_). Could she possibly! VARVARA. She may do anything. BORIS. Where is she now?