to invent something, else what would they get the money for? He comes to see us every day. He comes, says something, and gets ten roubles.
Second Peasant. Is it possible?
Yákov. There is one of them who gets one hundred.
First Peasant. In rivality, one hundred?
Yákov. One hundred! You say: one hundred? He takes a thousand, if he goes out of the city. "Give me a thousand," says he, "or you may give up the ghost!"
Third Peasant. O Lord!
Second Peasant. Does he know some charm?
Yákov. I suppose he does. I used to live at the house of a general, not far from Moscow. This general was such a high-tempered man, oh, so high-tempered! So once his daughter grew ill. They sent at once for this doctor. "A thousand roubles, and I will come." They agreed to it, and he came. In some way they did not please the doctor: well, you ought to have heard him yell out at the general! "Ah," says he, "so this is the way you treat me? Ah, I will not cure her!" Would you believe it? The general forgot his pride, and tried every way to quiet him down. "Sir, don't abandon me!"
First Peasant. Did they give him the thousand?
Yákov. I should say they did.
Second Peasant. What a heap of money! What a peasant could do with it!
Third Peasant. But I think it is all nonsense. At one time my leg was sore. I doctored it, and doctored it,—I spent about five roubles on doctoring. Then I gave up doctoring, and it healed up by itself. (The Old Cook on the oven coughs.)
Yákov. Our friend is there again!
First Peasant. Who is that man?
Yákov. He used to be our master's cook. He comes to see Lukérya.
