MICHO. Five.

BARSSEGH. Will you ever learn how to do it?

MICHO. Five.

BARSSEGH. If you keep on being so stupid my business will be ruined.

MICHO. Five--five.

BARSSEGH. I give you my word that I will give you the sack.

MICHO. Five--five.

BARSSEGH. Measure further.

MICHO. Five--[_aside_:]; Holy George, help me! [_Aloud_:] Six. I cannot
stretch it any more or I shall tear it.

BARSSEGH. Measure, now.

MICHO. O dear; I believe it is already torn.

BARSSEGH [_looking at the cloth_]. I see nothing. God forbid!

MICHO [_looking at the measure_]. It is short a half werschok of seven
arschin every time.

_The madman, Mosi, comes in at the middle door and stands in the
background_.

SCENE II

_Mosi_.

BARSSEGH [_hitting Micho on the head_]. What are you good for? Can't you
get that half werschok out of it?

MICHO [_howling_.] What am I to do when the cloth is too short?

BARSSEGH [_pulling his hair_]. Are you sure you're not lying?

MICHO [_yelling_.] How can you say that? Measure it yourself and we
shall see whether there are seven arschin here.

BARSSEGH [_angry; taking measure and calico_]. You say there are not
seven here? Wait, I will show you [_measuring._] One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, and a quarter left over for a present to you. What do
you say about it now? You must learn to measure if you burst doing it.
But you think only of your week's pay. Now, hurry up; be lively there!

MICHO. O heaven! How shall I begin? One, two--

BARSSEGH. Be careful and don't tear it.

MICHO [_crying._] What do you want of me? If I pull on the stuff I tear
it; and if I don't stretch it, no seven arschin will come out of it.

MOSI [_coming near_]. Ha! ha! ha! Who is the toper? Who? 'Tis I; the mad
Mosi. Ha! ha! ha!

BARSSEGH [_aside._] How comes this crazy fellow here?

MOSI [_seizing the measure and calico_]. Give it to me, you booby! There
are not only seven arschin here, but twenty-seven [_measuring quickly_].
One, two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve, and here are thirteen and
fourteen. Do you want me to make still more out of it? You must shove
the stick back in measuring. Can't you understand that? [_Throws the
stick and calico upon Micho_.] Here, take it and be a man at last. You
the shop-boy of such a great merchant and not find out a little thing
like that. Haven't you learned yet how to steal half a werschok? Ha, ha,
ha!
[_Micho tries to free himself but