Theodore Ivánitch. Leoníd Fyódoritch gave the order. He has just been speaking to them about the sale of the land.
Anna Pávlovna. What sale? There is no need to sell any. But above all, how can one let in people from the street into the house? One can't let people in from the street! One can't let people into the house who have spent the night heaven knows where!... (Getting more and more excited.) I daresay every fold of their clothes is full of microbes—of scarlet-fever microbes, of smallpox microbes, of diphtheria microbes! Why, they are from Koursk Government, where there is an epidemic of diphtheria ... Doctor! Doctor! Call the doctor back!
[LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH goes into his room and shuts the door. GREGORY goes to recall the DOCTOR.
Vasíly Leoníditch (smokes at the PEASANTS). Never mind, mamma; if you like I'll fumigate them so that all the microbes will go to pot! Eh, what?
[ANNA PÁVLOVNA remains severely silent, awaiting the DOCTOR'S return.
Vasíly Leoníditch (to PEASANTS). And do you fatten pigs? There's a first-rate business!
First Peasant. That's just so. We do go in for the pig-fattening line now and then.
Vasíly Leoníditch. This kind?...
[Grunts like a pig.
Anna Pávlovna. Vovo, Vovo, leave off!