VASSILISA. Good people! Come! Look! He’s dead! Murdered!
[All crowd into the hallway near Kostilyoff. Bubnoff leaves the crowd and crosses to Pepel.]
BUBNOFF [in a low voice, to Pepel] Vaska—the old man is done for!
PEPEL [looks at him, as though he does not understand] Go—for help—she must be taken to the hospital . . . I’ll settle with them . . .
BUBNOFF. I say—the old man—somebody’s killed him . . .
[The noise on the stage dies out like a fire under water. Distinct, whispered exclamations: “Not really?” “Well—let’s go away, brothers!” “The devil!” “Hold on now!” “Let’s get away before the police comes!” The crowd disappears. Bubnoff, the Tartar, Nastya, and Kvashnya, rush up to Kostilyoff’s body.]
VASSILISA [rises and cries out triumphantly] Killed—my husband’s killed! Vaska killed him! I saw him! Brothers, I saw him! Well—Vasya—the police!
PEPEL [moves away from Natasha] Let me alone. [Looks at Kostilyoff; to Vassilisa] Well—are you glad? [Touches the corpse with his foot] The old bastard is dead! Your wish has been granted! Why not do the same to you? [Throws himself at her]
[Satine and Zob quickly overpower him, and Vassilisa disappears in the passage.]