PRAS. My son is dead; he was murdered. I buried his body in the Tróitski Cemetery.
SASHA. But you see that I was not murdered. Touch me; feel me. I am alive. I and Adámek fought; it was not Adámek that slew me, it was....
PRAS. No, no! I want to hear no more. You have come to torment me. Only say what you want of me, anything, and I will do it, if you will leave me in peace.
SASHA. I want food and clothing; I want shelter; I must have money.
PRAS. You will go if I give you money? Yes? Say that you will go, far, far away, and never come back to tell lies.... But I have no money to give; I am a poor woman.
PRAS. No, no! I need it; I can't spare it. What I have I have starved myself to get. Two roubles, five roubles, even ten roubles I will give you, if you will go far, far away....
FOMÁ. Before he can travel we must bribe some peasant to lend him his passport.
SPIR. Peace be on this house. May the saints watch over all of you! Astéryi Ivanovitch will have told you of my proposal.
FOMÁ. Good-by, Spiridón; there is no work for you here. That is all over.
PRAS. Why do you say that that is all over?
FOMÁ. There will be no tomb-house to build.
PRAS. No tomb-house? How dare you say so? He is laughing at us, Spiridón. The tomb-house that we have planned together, with the table in the middle, and the two chairs.... Do not listen to him, Spiridón. At last I have money enough; let us count it together.
SASHA. I will not go unless you give me money.
PRAS. It is not mine. I have promised it all to Spiridón. Help me, Astéryi Ivanovitch; he will drive me mad! Oh, what must I do? What must I do? Is there no way, Varvára? [_Tap of drums without._] [_To Sasha._] Go! go! go quickly, or worse will befall you.
SASHA. I will not go and starve while you have all this money.
PRAS. Ah! Since you will have it so.... It is you, not I! [_Running out at the door and calling._] Patrol! Patrol!
FOMÁ. What have you done? What have you done?
PRAS. This man is a thief and a murderer. He is a convict escaped from Siberia. He has no passport.
CORP. Is that true? Where is your passport?
CORP. We are looking for such men as you. Come!
CORP. That's her affair. You have no passport; that is enough for me. You'll soon be back on the road to the North with the rest of them.