Zinaida. What is it?
Ivanoff. The fact is, you know, that the interest on my note is due day after to-morrow, but I should be more than obliged to you if you will let me postpone the payment of it, or would let me add the interest to the capital. I simply cannot pay it now; I haven’t the money.
Zinaida. Oh, Ivanoff, how could I do such a thing? Would it be business-like? No, no, don’t ask it, don’t torment an unfortunate old woman.
Ivanoff. I beg your pardon. [He goes out into the garden.
Zinaida. Oh, dear! Oh, dear! What a fright he gave me! I am trembling all over.
Enter Kosich through the door on the left. He walks across the stage.
Kosich. I had the ace, king, queen, and eight of diamonds, the ace of spades, and one, just one little heart, and she— —may the foul fiend fly away with her,—she couldn’t make a little slam!
Goes out through the door on the right. Enter from the garden Avdotia and First Guest.
Avdotia. Oh, how I should like to get my claws into her, the miserable old miser! How I should like it! Does she think it a joke to leave us sitting here since five o’clock without even offering us a crust to eat? What a house! What management!
First Guest. I am so bored that I feel like beating my head against the wall. Lord, what a queer lot of people! I shall soon be howling like a wolf and snapping at them from hunger and weariness.
Avdotia. How I should like to get my claws into her, the old sinner!
First Guest. I shall get a drink, old lady, and then home I go! I won’t have anything to do with these belles of yours.
