rts, and awaken love in them. Oh, how I bless my fate that it is my
happy lot to win her love!

SALOME. And my Nato pleases you, dear son-in-law?

ALEXANDER. Oh, I love her with all my heart, dear madame!

SALOME. If you love her so much, dear son, why did you exact so much
money? For the sake of 1,000 rubles this affair almost went to pieces.
Your sister Champera swore to me that if we did not give 1,000 rubles
more you would this very day betroth yourself to the daughter of
Barssegh Leproink.

ALEXANDER. I wonder, Madame Salome, that you should credit such things.
I marry Leproink's daughter! I refuse Miss Natalie on her account!
forget her beautiful black eyes and her good heart, and run after money!
Would not that be shameful in me! I must confess to you freely, dear
madame, that my sister's way of doing things is hateful to me. _Fi
mauvais genre!_ But let us say no more about it. If only God will help
us to a good ending!

SALOME. God grant that neither of you may have anything to
regret!--[_rising_] I will come back immediately, dear son-in-law; I am
only going to see what is keeping Nato. [_Alexander also rises_.] Keep
your seat, I beg of you. How ceremonious you are! I will come right
back.
[_Exit right_.

SCENE XII

ALEXANDER [_alone._] At last my burning wish is fulfilled! Now I have
both a pretty wife and money. Without money a man is not of the least
importance. Let him give himself what trouble he may, if he has no
money, no one will pay any attention to him. I have made only one
mistake in the business. I have been in too much of a hurry. If I had
held out a little longer they would have given me 8,000 rubles; now I
must be satisfied with 7,000. Still, what was to be done? It would not
have gone through otherwise; and for that matter, I may, perhaps,
somehow make up for it in other ways. In any case, I stand here on a fat
pasture-land where they seem to be pretty rich. The principal thing is
that I should make myself popular among them, then I shall have
succeeded in getting my fill out of them. Ha, ha, ha! How they worry
themselves! Yes, the whole office will be in an uproar to-morrow. [_With
affected voice_:] "Have you heard the news? Marmarow is engaged, and has
received 7,000 rubles dowry. And such a beautiful girl! Such a lovely
creature!" [_Clucking with his tongue and changing his voice_:] "Is it
possible!" [_In his own voice_:] Charming, charming, Marmarow! [_Lo