THE BARON. Who are you? A ghost?
LUKA [laughing] I’ve seen counts and princes in my day—this is the first time I meet a baron—and one who’s decaying—at that!
PEPEL [laughing] Baron, I blush for you!
THE BARON. It’s time you knew better, Vassily . . .
LUKA. Hey-hey—I look at you, brothers—the life you’re leading . . .
BUBNOFF. Such a life! As soon as the sun rises, our voices rise, too—in quarrels!
THE BARON. We’ve all seen better days—yes! I used to wake up in the morning and drink my coffee in bed—coffee—with cream! Yes—
LUKA. And yet we’re all human beings. Pretend all you want to, put on all the airs you wish, but man you were born, and man you must die. And as I watch I see that the wiser people get, the busier they get—and though from bad to worse, they still strive to improve—stubbornly—
THE BARON. Who are you, old fellow? Where do you come from?