SHPIGELSKY

Oh, yes, we know you’re a great mushroom lover. So Natalya Petrovna has gone to the house? What do you say? Shall we go back, too?

BOLSHINTSOV

All right.

RAKITIN

Yes, she went to the house to invite everybody for a walk . . . It seems they’re intending to fly a kite.

SHPIGELSKY

Wonderful. In such weather everybody should go for a walk.

RAKITIN

You can stay here . . . I’ll go and tell her you’ve come.

SHPIGELSKY

Don’t go to any trouble . . . Please, Mikhail Alexandrych . . .

RAKITIN

No . . . I have to anyway . . .

SHPIGELSKY

Ah! Well, in that case we won’t keep you . . . No formalities . . .

RAKITIN

Good-bye, gentlemen.

Exits left.

SHPIGELSKY

Good-bye. (To Bolshintsov) Well, Afanasy Ivanych . . .

BOLSHINTSOV

(Interrupting him) What’s all this about mushrooms, Ignaty Ilyich . . . I’m astonished—what mushrooms?

SHPIGELSKY

And maybe you think I should have said that my Afanasy Ivanych got cold feet, couldn’t face coming straight here, asked to go the long way around?

BOLSHINTSOV

All right . . . but still, mushrooms . . . I don’t know, maybe I’m making a mistake . . .

SHPIGELSKY

You probably are, my friend. You’d better think about this. See, we’ve come here . . . we’ve done it your way. Watch out! Don’t get egg on your face.

BOLSHINTSOV

Yes, Ignaty Ilyich, but you . . . I mean, you did tell me . . . I want to know definitely what answer . . .

SHPIGELSKY

My most esteemed Afanasy Ivanych! It’s some ten miles from your village to here; every mile you asked me the same question at least three times . . . Enough’s enough! Now listen: only I’m indulging you for the last time. Here’s what Natalya Petrovna said to me: “I . . .”

BOLSHINTSOV

(Nodding) Yes.

SHPIGELSKY

(Vexedly) “Yes” . . . “Yes” what? I haven’t said anything yet . . . “I know little of Mr. Bolshintsov,” she says, “but he seems to be a good man. On the other hand, I haven’t the slightest intention of forcing Verochka. So let him visit us, and if he earns . . .”

BOLSHINTSOV

“Earns”? She said “earns”?

SHPIGELSKY

“If he earns her sympathy, Anna Semyonovna and I will not stand in the way . . .”

BOLSHINTSOV

“Will not stand in the way”? She said that? “Will not stand in the way”?

SHPIGELSKY

Yes, yes, yes. What a strange man you are! “Will not stand in the way of their happiness.”

BOLSHINTSOV

Hm.

SHPIGELSKY

“Their happiness.” Yes. But see what your task is now, Afanasy Ivanych . . . You must now persuade Vera Alexandrovna herself that marriage to you is in fact happiness for her. You must earn her sympathy.

BOLSHINTSOV

(Blinking) Yes, yes, earn . . . exactly. I agree with you.

SHPIGELSKY

You insisted that I bring you here today . . . Well, let’s see how you’re going to act.