Second Peasant. Without the land we shall have to give up living.
First Peasant. In rivality, without the land our domicility must weaken and ruin will originate.
Third Peasant (bowing). Father! The land is small: there is no place to drive out a cow, nay, not even a chick. Father, have pity on us! Accept the money, father!
Leoníd Fédorovich (in the meanwhile looks through the document). I understand. I should like to do you a kindness. Wait. I will give you an answer in half an hour— Fédor, tell them not to receive anybody.
Fédor Iványch. Very well. (Leonid Fédorovich exit.)
Scene XXVII. The same, without Leonid Fédorovich. (The peasants are downcast.)
Second Peasant. What a business! He says: "Hand us the whole amount!" Where shall we take it from?
First Peasant. If he had not given us hope last year. For we have, in rivality, been relaying on what he told us last year.
Third Peasant. O Lord! I had already unrolled the money. (Wraps up the money.) What are we going to do now?
Fédor Iványch. What is the matter with you?
First Peasant. Our business, honourable man, depends, for example, like this: he had preposed to us last year to depone the payments. The Commune met in opinion and inpowered us; and now, for example, he preposes to give him the whole sum in totality. But the business comes out impossibly.
Fédor Iványch. How much money is it?
First Peasant. The whole sum in entrance is four thousand roubles, so to speak.
