] Chic! A true gentleman am I! Yes, I am getting on. I must now think only of to-morrow and the next day, and how to get on further. The principal thing is for a man to know the value of money, for without money nothing can be undertaken. First, I shall have the interest on my capital; then my salary, and last some hundred rubles beside. That makes 3,000 or 4,000 rubles a year. If I lay aside 1,000 rubles every year, I have in seven or eight years 10,000; in fifteen years double that, and so on. Yes, Monsieur Marmarow, you understand it! Be happy, therefore, and let the others burst with envy.
Salome and Nato enter at the right, Salome holding Nato's hand.
ALEXANDER. Miss Natalie, the whole night long I thought only of you! [
Kisses her hand
.]
SALOME. Kiss her on the cheek and give her the engagement ring.
ALEXANDER. Oh, you are the sun of my existence! [
Draws a ring from his finger and gives it to Natalie
.] From now on you are mine. Please! [
Kisses her