NADYA. [_With desperation_] I don't want any helpers or defenders! I don't
want them! If my patience fails, that pond of ours isn't far off!

LEONID. [_Timidly_] Well, I'll go away if you wish.... Only what is she
saying? You folks, look after her, please! Good-by! [_He goes to the door_.

NADYA. [_After him in a loud voice_] Good-by!

LEONID _goes out_.

LIZA. And so the old proverb is true: What's fun for the cat is tears for
the mouse.

POVERTY IS NO CRIME

A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS

CHARACTERS

GORDEY KARPYCH TORTSOV, _a rich merchant_.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA, _his wife_.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA, _his daughter_.

LYUBIM KARPYCH TORTSOV, _his brother, a man who has squandered his
property_.

AFRIKAN SAVVICH KORSHUNOV[1], _a manufacturer_.

[Footnote 1: Vulture]

MITYA, TORTSOV'S _clerk_.

YASHA GUSLIN, _nephew of_ TORTSOV.

GRISHA RAZLYULYAYEV, _a young merchant, the son of a rich father_.

ANNA IVANOVNA, _a young widow_.

MASHA }
} _friends of_ LYUBOV TORTSOV.
LIZA }

EGORUSHKA, _a boy, distant relative of_ TORTSOV.

ARINA, _nurse of_ LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA.

GUESTS, SERVANTS, MUMMERS, AND OTHERS.

_The action takes place in a district town in the house of the merchant
TORTSOV during the Christmas holidays_.

POVERTY IS NO CRIME

ACT I

_A small office room; in the rear wall a door; in the corner on the left
a bed, on the right a cupboard. In the left wall a window, and beside the
window a table. Near the table a chair; near the right wall a desk and a
wooden stool. Beside the bed a guitar; on the table and desk are books and
papers_.

SCENE I

MITYA _is walking back and forth in the room_. EGORUSHKA _is seated on the
stool reading_ "Bova Korolevich."

EGORUSHKA. [_Reads_] "My sovereign father, glorious and brave king, Kiribit
Verzoulovich, I do not possess the courage to marry him now. Because when I
was young I was wooed by King Gvidon."

MITYA. Well, Egorushka, is any one at home?

EGORUSHKA. [_Putting his finger on the place where he is reading in order
not to make a mistake_] Nobody; they've all gone driving. There's only
Gordey Karpych at home. [_Reads_] "Whereupon Kiribit Verzoulovich said to
his daughter"--[_Again marking the place_]--only he's in such a rage, it's
awful! I cleared out--he keeps on cursing. [_Reads_] "Then the beautiful
Militrisa Kirbityevna called her servant Licharda to her."

MITYA. With whom was he angry?

EGORUSHKA. With m