Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/84

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. I am reading now. I shall attend to you later.

. No, seriously, would you be sorry if I died? Nicholas, would you be sorry if I died?

. Leave me alone!

. Come, tell me if you would be sorry or not.

. I am sorry that you smell so of vodka, Misha, it is disgusting.

. Do I smell of vodka? How strange! And yet, it is not so strange after all. I met the magistrate on the road, and I must admit that we did drink about eight glasses together. Strictly speaking, of course, drinking is very harmful. Listen, it is harmful, isn’t it? Is it? Is it?

. This is unendurable! Let me warn you, Misha, that you are going too far.

. Well, well, excuse me. Sit here by yourself then, for heaven’s sake, if it amuses you. [Gets up and goes away] What extraordinary people one meets in the world. They won’t even allow themselves to be spoken to. [He comes back] Oh, yes, I nearly forgot. Please let me have eighty-two roubles.

. Why do you want eighty-two roubles?

. To pay the workmen to-morrow.

. I haven’t the money.

. Many thanks. [Angrily] So you haven’t the money! And yet the workmen must be paid, mustn’t they?

. I don’t know. Wait till my salary comes in on the first of the month.

. How is it possible to discuss anything with a man like you? Can’t you understand that the workmen are coming to-morrow morning and not on the first of the month?