SATINE. I’ve won fifty-three kopecks.

THE ACTOR. Give me three of them . . . though, what’ll I do with them?

LUKA [coming from kitchen] Well—the Tartar was fleeced all right, eh? Going to have some vodka?

THE BARON. Come with us.

SATINE. I wonder what you’ll be like when you’re drunk.

LUKA. Same as when I’m sober.

THE ACTOR. Come on, old man—I’ll recite verses for you . . .

LUKA. What?

THE ACTOR. Verses. Don’t you understand?