VASSILISA [leaning closely towards him] Vassa—let’s help each other!
PEPEL. How?
VASSILISA [low and forcibly] My sister—I know you’ve fallen for her. . . .
PEPEL. And that’s why you beat her up, like the beast you are! Look out, Vassilisa! Don’t you touch her!
VASSILISA. Wait. Don’t get excited. We can do everything quietly and pleasantly. You want to marry her. I’ll give you money . . . three hundred rubles—even more than that . . .
PEPEL [moving away from her] Stop! What do you mean?
VASSILISA. Rid me of my husband! Take that noose from around my neck . . .
PEPEL [whistling softly] So that’s the way the land lies! You certainly planned it cleverly . . . in other words, the grave for the husband, the gallows for the lover, and as for yourself . . .
VASSILISA. Vassya! Why the gallows? It doesn’t have to be yourself—but one of your pals! And supposing it were yourself—who’d know? Natalia—just think—and you’ll have money—you go away somewhere . . . you free me forever—and it’ll be very good for my sister to be away from me—the sight of her enrages me. . . . I get furious with her on account of you, and I can’t control myself. I tortured the girl—I beat her up—beat her up so that I myself cried with pity for her—but I’ll beat her—and I’ll go on beating her!