Redemption and two other plays Part 53

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. That was last year. I would have agreed to it then, but now I can't.

SECOND PEASANT. But how's that? We've been depending on your promise-- we've got the papers ready and have collected the money!

THIRD PEASANT. Be merciful, master! We're short of land; we'll say nothing about cattle, but even a hen, let's say, we've no room to keep. (Bows.) Don't wrong us, master!

[Bows.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Of course it's quite true, that I agreed last year to let you have the land for payment by instalments, but now circ.u.mstances are such that it would be inconvenient.

SECOND PEASANT. Without this land we cannot live!

FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. Without land our lives must grow weaker and come to a decline.

THIRD PEASANT (bowing). Master, we have so little land, let's not talk about the cattle, but even a chicken, let's say, we've no room for.

Master, be merciful, accept the money, master!

LEONiD FYoDORITCH (examining the doc.u.ment). I quite understand, and should like to help you. Wait a little; I will give you an answer in half-an-hour.... Theodore, say I am engaged and am not to be disturbed.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. Yes, sir.

[Exit LEONiD FYODORITCH.

[The PEASANTS look dejected.

SECOND PEASANT. Here's a go! "Give me the whole sum," he says. And where are we to get it from?

FIRST PEASANT. If he had not given us hopes, for example. As it is we felt quite insured it would be as was said last year.

THIRD PEASANT. Oh, Lord! and I had begun unwrapping the money. (Begins wrapping up the bundle of bank-notes again.) What are we to do now?

THEODORE IVaNITCH. What is your business, then?

FIRST PEASANT. Our business, respected sir, depends in this. Last year he made us the offer of our buying the land in 'stalments. The Commune entered upon these terms and gave us the powers of atturning, and now d'you see he makes the offering that we should pay the whole in full!

And as it turns out, the business is no ways convenient for us.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. What is the whole sum?

FIRST PEASANT. The whole sum in readiness is 4000 roubles, you see.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. Well, what of that? Make an effort and collect more.

FIRST PEASANT. Such as it is, it was collected with much effort. We have, so to say, in this sense, not got ammunition enough.

SECOND PEASANT. You can't get blood out of a stone.

THIRD PEASANT. We'd be glad with all our hearts, but we have swept even this together, as you might say, with a broom.

[VASiLY LEONiDITCH and PETRiSTCHEF appear in the doorway both smoking cigarettes.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. I have told you already I'll do my best, so, of course, I will do all that is possible! Eh, what?

PETRiSTCHEF. You must just understand that if you do not get it, the devil only knows what a mess we shall be in!

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. But I've already said I'll do my best, and so I will. Eh, what?

PETRiSTCHEF. Nothing. I only say, get some at any cost; I will wait.

[Exit into VASiLY LEONiDITCH'S room, closing door.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH (waving his arm). It's a deuce of a go!

[The PEASANTS bow.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH (looking at PORTER, to THEODORE IVaNITCH). Why don't you attend to this fellow from Bourdier? He hasn't come to take lodgings with us, has he? Just look, he is asleep! Eh, what?

THEODORE IVaNITCH. The note he brought has been sent in, and he has been told to wait until Anna Pavlovna comes down.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH (looks at PEASANTS and notices the money). And what is this? Money? For whom? Is it for us? (To THEODORE IVaNITCH.) Who are they?

THEODORE IVaNITCH. They are peasants from Koursk. They are buying land.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. Has it been sold them?

THEODORE IVaNITCH. No, they have not yet come to any agreement. They are too stingy?

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. Eh? Well, we must try and persuade them. (To the PEASANTS.) Here, I say, are you buying land? Eh?

FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. We have made an offering as how we should like to acquire the possession of the land.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. Then you should not be so stingy, you know. Just let me tell you how necessary land is to peasants! Eh, what? It's very necessary, isn't it?

FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. The land appears as the very first and foremost necessity to a peasant. That's just it.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. Then why be so stingy? Just you think what land is!

Why, one can sow wheat on it in rows! I tell you, you could get eighty bushels of wheat, at a rouble and a half a bushel--that would be 120 roubles. Eh, what? Or else mint! I tell you, you could collar 400 roubles off an acre by sowing mint!

FIRST PEASANT. That's just it. All sorts of products one could put into action if one had the right understanding.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. Mint! Decidedly mint! I have learnt about it, you know. It's all printed in books. I can show them you. Eh, what?

FIRST PEASANT. That's just it, all concerns are clearer to you through your books. That's learnedness, of course.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. Then pay up and don't be stingy! (To THEODORE IVaNITCH.) Where's papa?

THEODORE IVaNITCH. He gave orders not to be disturbed just now.

VASiLY LEONiDITCH. Oh, I suppose he's consulting a spirit whether to sell the land or not? Eh, what?

THEODORE IVaNITCH. I can't say. All I know is that be went away undecided about it.