Master: Ah! when you were speaking the truth, I was full of prejudices
Servant: Only to think how much time you wasted for nothing
Master: Nearly all my youth
Companion: But who said he wasn’t going to talk of the past? There’s firm determination! Instead of sad recollections, Egórich, you’d much better tell us how his grandfather drove out in the coach with girls for horses. But in detail. I and Grusha intend to take him out the same way.
Servant: Ah, young lady! That’s impossible! There are no girls now like there used to be. Are there? Can you see them now with blood as thick as milk, and strong as horses, and such teeth—oh! it used to hurt to look at them, they glistened so. And their calves were burnt like your iron and their braids were like whips! Oho, young lady, those times have gone, there are no more pretty girls like there used to be.
Companion: Come, tell us how it used to be.
Maid (enters): The witch has come. Is she to wait?
Master: No, no, call her in at once, call the dear old lady in.
