much noise! You're an ass! (Discovering Mrs. Popov—politely) Madam, I have the honor to introduce myself: Lieutenant in the Artillery, retired, country gentleman, Grigori Stepanovitch Smirnov! I'm compelled to bother you about an exceedingly important matter.
Mrs. Popov. (Without offering her hand) What is it you wish?
Smirnov. Your deceased husband, with whom I had the honor to be acquainted, left me two notes amounting to about twelve hundred rubles. Inasmuch as I have to pay the interest to-morrow on a loan from the Agrarian Bank, I should like to request, madam, that you pay me the money to-day.
Mrs. Popov. Twelve hundred—and for what was my husband indebted to you?
Smirnov. He bought oats from me.
Mrs. Popov. (With a sigh, to Luka) Don't forget to give Tobby an extra measure of oats.
(Luka goes out.)
Mrs. Popov. (To Smirnov) If Nikolai Michailovitch is indebted to you, I shall of course pay you, but I am sorry, I haven't the money to-day. To-morrow my manager will return from the city and I shall notify him to pay you what is due you, but until then I cannot satisfy your request. Furthermore, to-day it is just seven months since the death of my husband and I am not in a mood to discuss money matters.
Smirnov. And I am in the mood to fly up the chimney with my feet in the air if I can't lay hands on that interest to-morrow. They'll seize my estate!
Mrs. Popov. Day after to-morrow you will receive the money.
Smirnov. I don't need the money day after to-morrow, I need it to-day.
