PEPEL. Natalia! What’s the matter with you? What are you saying?
SATINE. Oh—hell!
VASSILISA. You lie. She lies. He—Vaska killed him . . .
NATASHA. They’re both guilty! God damn you both!
SATINE. What a mix-up! Hold on, Vassily—or they’ll ruin you between them!
ZOB. I can’t understand it—oh—what a mess!
PEPEL. Natalia! It can’t be true! Surely you don’t believe that I—with her—
SATINE. So help me God, Natasha! Just think . . .
VASSILISA [in the passage] They’ve killed my husband—Your Excellency! Vaska Pepel, the thief, killed him. Captain! I saw it—everybody saw it . . .
NATASHA [tossing about in agony; her mind wandering] Good people—my sister and Vaska killed him! The police—listen—this sister of mine—here—she urged, coaxed her lover—there he stands—the scoundrel! They both killed him! Put them in jail! Bring them before the judge! Take me along, too! To prison! Christ Almighty—take me to prison, too!