Artimiev. But I'm going to give it to you just the same. Now you're a corpse. Well, suppose you come to life again!
Fédya. What?
Artimiev. Then your wife and that fellow she's so happy with—they'd be arrested for bigamy. The best they'd get would be ten years in Siberia. Now you see where you can have a steady income, don't you?
Fédya. (furiously). Stop talking and get out of here!
Artimiev. The best way is to write them a letter. If you don't know how I'll do it for you. Just give me their address and afterwards when the ruble notes commence to drop in, how grateful you'll be!
Fédya. Get out! Get out, I say! I haven't told you anything!
Artimiev. Oh, yes, you have! Here's my witness! This waiter heard you saying you were a corpse!
Fédya. (beside himself). You damn blackmailing beast——
[Rising.
Artimiev. Oh, I'm a beast, am I? We'll see about that! (FÉDYA rises to go, ARTIMIEV seizes him.) Police! Police! (FÉDYA struggles frantically to escape.)