Page:Five Russian plays and one Ukrainian.pdf/68

  Friend of Master, in normal twentieth-century clothes, with spectacles, followed by Servant.)




 * You can get warm here by the stove and have a brush down. Grusha, bring a brush.


 * What a long way you are from the station! How’s the master, is he well?


 * Oh yes. Did you get good horses, if I might ask?

(looking round amazed): Er, yes, not bad.


 * The girl will brush you, but master’s calling me. Grusha, do it properly! (Exit.)

(moving away from the monkey): It, er—doesn’t bite?


 * It doesn’t bite its friends.


 * But strangers?


 * Strangers don’t come here.


 * Don’t come here ? But, er—your master, is he, er—absolutely well?


 * Yes, absolutely.


 * Lucky the monkey isn’t free!


 * Goodness gracious, why, nobody’s free at master’s.