PEPEL. Natalia, where are you . . . you . . .

KOSTILYOFF [disappearing behind a corner] Abram! Seize Vaska! Comrades—help us get him! The thief! The robber!

PEPEL. You—you old bastard! [Aiming a terrific blow at Kostilyoff. Kostilyoff falls so that only the upper part of his body is seen. Pepel rushes to Natasha]

VASSILISA. Beat Vaska! Brothers! Beat the thief!

MIEDVIEDIEFF [yells to Satine] Keep out of this—it’s a family affair . . . they’re relatives—and who are you . . .

PEPEL [to Natasha] What did she do to you? She used a knife?

KVASHNYA. God—what beasts! They’ve scalded the child’s feet with boiling water!

NASTYA. They overturned the samovar . . .

THE TARTAR. Maybe an accident—you must make sure—you can’t exactly tell . . .

NATASHA [half fainting] Vassily—take me away—