Másha sings.
FÉDYA. That's good too! Másha, you're a brick!… Now then, “Not at Eve”!
AFRÉMOV. No, wait! First, my burial song.…
OFFICER. Why burial?
AFRÉMOV. Because, when I'm dead … you know, dead and laid in my coffin, the gipsies will come (you know I shall leave instructions with my wife) and they will begin to sing “I Walked a Mile” … and then I'll jump out of my coffin!… Do you understand? [To the musician] You just write this down. [To the gipsies] Well, rattle along!
Gipsies sing.
AFRÉMOV. What do you think of that?… Now then, “My Brave Lads”!
Gipsies sing.
Afrémov gesticulates and dances. The gipsies smile and continue singing, clapping their hands. Afrémov sits down and the song ends.
GIPSIES. Bravo! Michael Andréyevich![4] He's a real gipsy!