THE BARON. I shall!
SATINE. Stop! Don’t insult her! I can’t get the thought of the old man out of my head! [Roars with laughter] Don’t offend your fellow-beings! Suppose I were offended once in such a way that I’d remember it for the rest of my life? What then? Should I forgive? No, no!
THE BARON [to Nastya] You must understand that I’m not your sort . . . you—ah—you piece of dirt!
NASTYA. You bastard! Why—you live off me like a worm off an apple!
[The men laugh amusedly.]
KLESHTCH. Fool! An apple—?
THE BARON. You can’t be angry with her—she’s just an ass—
NASTYA. You laugh! Liars? Don’t strike you as funny, eh?
THE ACTOR [morosely] Give them a good beating!