First Peasant. That is as you had made the preposition to us last year. It originates, so to speak, from the sum in its totality of 32,864 roubles for the purchase of the proprietorship of the land.
Leoníd Fédorovich. That is so. How about the pay?
First Peasant. In respect to the pay the Commune preposes, as has been said last year, to depone, so to speak, the reception of the cash, by the laws of the statutes, in the totality of four thousand roubles.
Second Peasant. That is, you will get four thousand now, and for the rest you are to wait.
Third Peasant (unrolling the money). You may be sure we will pawn ourselves, but we will not do, let me say, in any slipshod manner, but, let me say, so to speak, as is proper.
Leoníd Fédorovich. But I wrote to you that I should be willing only in case you had collected all the money.
First Peasant. This would, in rivality, be pleasanter, but it is not in the possibilities, so to speak.
Leoníd Fédorovich. I cannot help it.
First Peasant. The Commune, for example, has been relaying on your preposition of last year to depone the payment—
Leoníd Fédorovich. That was last year; then I was willing, but now I cannot—
Second Peasant. How is that? You had given us hope, and we had the paper written up, and the money collected.
Third Peasant. Have pity on us, father. Our land is small, there is not enough room to drive out a cow, nay, not even a chick, let me say. (Bows.) Don't sin, father! (Bows.)
Leoníd Fédorovich. I must say it is true that I was willing last year to postpone the payment, but something has happened—and so it is not convenient for me now.
