e with me. I know a lot of the landowners who come here. They are used
to me; very few of them ever go to the hotel.

KARP. Because it's so noisy.

PROKOFYEVNA. Yes, I should say so! Down-stairs is a bar-room; and on market
days the noise is dreadful. Please tell me, wasn't your master's mother
Sofya Pavlovna, the wife of General Babayev?

KARP. Exactly so.

PROKOFYEVNA. Is their estate called Zavetnoye?

KARP. Yes.

PROKOFYEVNA. So, so. I recognized him just now. I used to see him as a
youngster. He often rode to town with his mother, and they would call on
me. Does he live in the country?

KARP. No, we are most of the time in St. Petersburg; but now we have come
to the country to arrange business matters.

PROKOFYEVNA. So, so. But is he a good man to deal with?

KARP. Pretty good.

PROKOFYEVNA. Well, thank the Lord! May He reward him! What business brought
you to our town?

KARP. Oh, those endless legal matters. Petty business, something to bear
witness to; but I suppose he'll waste five days over it.

PROKOFYEVNA. It wouldn't be surprising. Have you called on the judges?

KARP. Yes, we called on them all. Just now they sent us a clerk from court.

PROKOFYEVNA. They'll probably do it quicker for you than for us. If you
need anything, knock on the wall, and I'll come. [_Goes out_.

BABAYEV _and_ SHISHGALEV _enter at the side door_.

SCENE II

BABAYEV, SHISHGALEV, _and_ KARP

BABAYEV. So you say, my dear sir, that it is absolutely impossible?

SHISHGALEV. [_Bowing and continually blowing his nose and covering his
mouth with his hand_] But, believe me, sir, if it were at all possible we
should have----

BABAYEV. Maybe it is possible?

SHISHGALEV. Judge for yourself, sir. Now the court session has ended, it
is quite impossible to assemble the members; to-morrow is a holiday--then
comes Saturday and then Sunday.

BABAYEV. Just think, my dear sir, how you are treating me!

SHISHGALEV. How am I to blame? I'm the humblest sort of man.

BABAYEV. But, my dear sir, what shall I do here for the next four days? It
is dreadful!

SHISHGALEV. You can look around, sir, and take a glance at our city.

KARP. What's the use of looking at it? What is there to see here? I suppose
you'll say that St. Petersburg is not as fine a city as yours.

BABAYEV. Have you any kind of social life?

SHISHGALEV. I beg pardon, sir?

BABAYEV. I said, have you any social life, any sort of club, entertainment
with m