NUNIN.
Well, now, am I a swindler?
You needn't worry!
NASTASYA TIMOFEYEVNA. [Sighs] One doesn't like to spend money for nothing, Andrey darling!
NUNIN.
Don't you worry!
He's not a general, he's a dream! [Raises his voice] I said to him:
"You've quite forgotten us, your Excellency!
It isn't kind of your Excellency to forget your old friends!
Nastasya Timofeyevna," I said to him, "she's very annoyed with you about it!" [Goes and sits at the table] And he says to me:
"But, my friend, how can I go when I don't know the bridegroom?"
"Oh, nonsense, your excellency, why stand on ceremony?
The bridegroom," I said to him, "he's a fine fellow, very free and easy.
He's a valuer," I said, "at the Law courts, and don't you think, your excellency, that he's some rascal, some knave of hearts.
Nowadays," I said to him, "even decent women are employed at the Law courts."
He slapped me on the shoulder, we smoked a Havana cigar each, and now he's coming....
Wait a little, ladies and gentlemen, don't eat....
APLOMBOV.
When's he coming?
NUNIN.
This minute.
When I left him he was already putting on his goloshes.
Wait a little, ladies and gentlemen, don't eat yet.
APLOMBOV.
The band should be told to play a march.
NUNIN. [Shouts] Musicians!
A march! [The band plays a march for a minute.]
A WAITER.
Mr. Revunov-Karaulov! [ZHIGALOV, NASTASYA TIMOFEYEVNA, and NUNIN run to meet him.
Enter REVUNOV-KARAULOV.]
NASTASYA TIMOFEYEVNA. [Bowing] Please come in, your excellency!
So glad you've come!
REVUNOV.
Awfully!
ZHIGALOV.
We, your excellency, aren't celebrities, we aren't important, but quite ordinary, but don't think on that account that there's any fraud.
We put good people into the best place, we begrudge nothing.
Please!
REVUNOV.
Awfully glad!
NUNIN.
Let me introduce to you, your excellency, the bridegroom, Epaminond Maximovitch Aplombov, with his newly born... I mean his newly married wife!
Ivan Mihailovitch Yats, employed on the telegraph!
A foreigner of Greek nationality, a confectioner by trade, Harlampi Spiridonovitch Dimba!
Osip Lukitch Babelmandebsky!
And so on, and so on....
The rest are just trash.
Sit down, your excellency!
REVUNOV.
Awfully!