oking
at his clothing:_] Chic! A true gentleman am I! Yes, I am getting on. I
must now think only of to-morrow and the next day, and how to get on
further. The principal thing is for a man to know the value of money,
for without money nothing can be undertaken. First, I shall have the
interest on my capital; then my salary, and last some hundred rubles
beside. That makes 3,000 or 4,000 rubles a year. If I lay aside 1,000
rubles every year, I have in seven or eight years 10,000; in fifteen
years double that, and so on. Yes, Monsieur Marmarow, you understand it!
Be happy, therefore, and let the others burst with envy.

_Salome and Nato enter at the right, Salome holding Nato's hand_.

ALEXANDER. Miss Natalie, the whole night long I thought only of you!
[_Kisses her hand_.]

SALOME. Kiss her on the cheek and give her the engagement ring.

ALEXANDER. Oh, you are the sun of my existence! [_Draws a ring from his
finger and gives it to Natalie_.] From now on you are mine. Please!
[_Kisses her_.]

SALOME. Be happy and may you reach old age together. [_Kisses Alexander;
then Nato_.] God bless you, my children. Sit down, I pray you, Alexander
[_pointing to the sofa on which Alexander and Nato sit down_]. Your
father will soon be here. [_Walks to and fro in joyful excitement_.]

ALEXANDER [_looking at Nato_]. Dear Natalie, why are you so silent? Let
me hear your sweet voice, I beg of you.

NATO. I am speechless, Monsieur Marmarow.

ALEXANDER. Monsieur!

NATO. Dear Alexander.

ALEXANDER [_seizing her hand_]. So! That sounds much sweeter! [_Kisses
her hand_.]

_Enter Chacho_.

SALOME. Come in, dear aunt.

CHACHO. Such a thing has never happened to me before! Could you not wait
till the man of the house arrived?

SALOME. Oh, it is all the same; he will be here soon enough. Give them
your blessing, I beg of you.

CHACHO. May God bestow all good things upon you. May heaven grant the
prayer of me, a sinner. [_Alexander and Nato stand up_.] May you have
nothing to regret. May you flourish and prosper and grow old together on
the same pillow. [_Ossep comes to the door and stands astonished_.]

CHACHO [_continuing_]. God grant that your first may be a boy! Love and
respect each other! May the eye of the Czar look down on you with mercy!
[_Sees Ossep_.] Let the father now offer you his good wishes.

SALOME. Dear Ossep, congratulate your daughter.

NATO. Dear papa!
[_Goes up to Ossep and kisses his