pen." Really, it made me so
glad that I couldn't say a word. I cried and cried. I simply screamed,
so that Luka Lukich said to me, "What are you crying so for, Nastenka?"
"Lukanchik," I said, "I don't know myself. The tears just keep flowing
like a stream."

GOVERNOR. Please sit down, ladies and gentlemen. Ho, Mishka, bring some
more chairs in.

The Guests seat themselves.

SCENE VII

The same, the Police Captain and Sergeants.

CAPTAIN. I have the honor to congratulate you, your Honor, and to wish
you long years of prosperity.

GOVERNOR. Thank you, thank you! Please sit down, gentlemen.

The Guests seat themselves.

AMMOS. But please tell us, Anton Antonovich, how did it all come about,
and how did it all--ahem!--go?

GOVERNOR. It went in a most extraordinary way. He condescended to make
the proposal in his own person.

ANNA. In the most respectful and most delicate manner. He spoke
beautifully. He said: "Anna Andreyevna, I have only a feeling of respect
for your worth." And such a handsome, cultured man! His manners so
genteel! "Believe me, Anna Andreyevna," he says, "life is not worth a
penny to me. It is only because I respect your rare qualities."

MARYA. Oh, mamma, it was to me he said that.

ANNA. Shut up! You don't know anything. And don't meddle in other
people's affairs. "Anna Andreyevna," he says, "I am enraptured." That
was the flattering way he poured out his soul. And when I was going to
say, "We cannot possibly hope for such an honor," he suddenly went
down on his knees, and so aristocratically! "Anna Andreyevna," he says,
"don't make me the most miserable of men. Consent to respond to my
feelings, or else I'll put an end to my life."

MARYA. Really, mamma, it was to me he said that.

ANNA. Yes, of course--to you, too. I don't deny it.

GOVERNOR. He even frightened us. He said he would put a bullet through
his brains. "I'll shoot myself, I'll shoot myself," he said.

MANY GUESTS. Well, for the Lord's sake!

AMMOS. How remarkable!

LUKA. It must have been fate that so ordained.

ARTEMY. Not fate, my dear friend. Fate is a turkey-hen. It was the
Governor's services that brought him this piece of fortune. [Aside.]
Good luck always does crawl into the mouths of swine like him.

AMMOS. If you like, Anton Antonovich, I'll sell you the dog we were
bargaining about.

GOVERNOR. I don't care about dogs now.

AMMOS. Well, if you don't want it, then we'll agree on some other dog.