sumption! No hope! She is dying! It is nonsense, I can’t abide him!
Lebedieff. What makes you think he is lying?
Shabelski. [Gets up and walks up and down] I can’t bear to think that a living person could die like that, suddenly, without any reason at all. Don’t let us talk about it!
Kosich runs in panting.
Kosich. Is Ivanoff at home? How do you do? [He shakes hands quickly all round] Is he at home?
Borkin. No, he isn’t.
Kosich. [Sits down and jumps up again] In that case I must say good-bye; I must be going. Business, you know. I am absolutely exhausted; run off my feet!
Lebedieff. Where did you blow in from?
Kosich. From Barabanoff’s. He and I have been playing cards all night; we have only just stopped. I have been absolutely fleeced; that Barabanoff is a demon at cards. [In a tearful voice] Just listen to this: I had a heart and he [He turns to Borkin, who jumps away from him] led a diamond, and I led a heart, and he led another diamond. Well, he didn’t take the trick. [To Lebedieff] We were playing three in clubs. I had the ace and queen, and the ace and ten of spades———
Lebedieff. [Stopping up his ears] Spare me, for heaven’s sake, spare me!
Kosich. [To Shabelski] Do you understand? I had the ace and queen of clubs, the ace and ten of spades———
Shabelski. [Pushes him away] Go away, I don’t want to listen to you!
Kosich. When suddenly misfortune overtook me. My ace of spades took the first trick———
Shabelski. [Snatching up a revolver] Leave the room, or I shall shoot!
