PEPEL. What did he come here for?
SATINE [laughing] Don’t you understand? He’s looking for his wife. Why don’t you beat him up once and for all, Vaska?
PEPEL. Why should I let such trash interfere with my life?
SATINE. Show some brains! And then you can marry Vassilisa—and become our boss—
PEPEL. Heavenly bliss! And you’d smash up my household and, because I’m a soft-hearted fool, you’ll drink up everything I possess. [Sits on a bunk] Old devil—woke me up—I was having such a pleasant dream. I dreamed I was fishing—and I caught an enormous trout—such a trout as you only see in dreams! I was playing him—and I was so afraid the line would snap. I had just got out the gaff—and I thought to myself—in a moment—
SATINE. It wasn’t a trout, it was Vassilisa—
THE ACTOR. He caught Vassilisa a long time ago.
PEPEL [angrily] You can all go to the devil—and Vassilisa with you—
[Kleshtch comes from the hall.]
KLESHTCH. Devilishly cold!