PEPEL. Beast! Bragging about your beastliness?
VASSILISA. I’m not bragging—I speak the truth. Think now, Vassa. You’ve been to prison twice because of my husband—through his greed. He clings to me like a bed-bug—he’s been sucking the life out of me for the last four years—and what sort of a husband is he to me? He’s forever abusing Natasha—calls her a beggar—he’s just poison, plain poison, to every one . . .
PEPEL. You spin your yarn cleverly . . .
VASSILISA. Everything I say is true. Only a fool could be as blind as you. . . .
[Kostilyoff enters stealthily and comes forward noisily.]
PEPEL [to Vassilisa] Oh—go away!
VASSILISA. Think it over! [Sees her husband] What? You? Following me?
[Pepel leaps up and stares at Kostilyoff savagely.]
KOSTILYOFF. It’s I, I! So the two of you were here alone—you were—ah—conversing? [Suddenly stamps his feet and screams] Vassilisa—you bitch! You beggar! You damned hag! [Frightened by his own screams which are met by silence and indifference on the part of the others] Forgive me, O Lord . . . Vassilisa—again you’ve led me into the path of sin. . . . I’ve been looking for you everywhere. It’s time to go to bed. You forgot to fill the lamps—oh, you . . . beggar! Swine! [Shakes his trembling fist at her, while Vassilisa slowly goes to door, glancing at Pepel over her shoulder]
PEPEL [to Kostilyoff] Go away—clear out of here—