CHARLOTTA. I’ve nowhere to live in town. I must go away. [Hums] Never mind.
[Enter PISCHIN.]
LOPAKHIN. Nature’s marvel!
PISCHIN. [Puffing] Oh, let me get my breath back.... I’m fagged out... My most honoured, give me some water....
GAEV. Come for money, what? I’m your humble servant, and I’m going out of the way of temptation. [Exit.]
PISCHIN. I haven’t been here for ever so long... dear madam. [To LOPAKHIN] You here? Glad to see you... man of immense brain... take this... take it.... [Gives LOPAKHIN money] Four hundred roubles.... That leaves 840....
LOPAKHIN. [Shrugs his shoulders in surprise] As if I were dreaming. Where did you get this from?
PISCHIN. Stop... it’s hot.... A most unexpected thing happened. Some Englishmen came along and found some white clay on my land.... [To LUBOV ANDREYEVNA] And here’s four hundred for you... beautiful lady.... [Gives her money] Give you the rest later.... [Drinks water] Just now a young man in the train was saying that some great philosopher advises us all to jump off roofs. “Jump!” he says, and that’s all. [Astonished] To think of that, now! More water!
LOPAKHIN. Who were these Englishmen?
PISCHIN. I’ve leased off the land with the clay to them for twenty-four years.... Now, excuse me, I’ve no time.... I must run off.... I must go to Znoikov and to Kardamonov... I owe them all money.... [Drinks] Good-bye. I’ll come in on Thursday.