Paul. We might buy an estate, for instance.
Serafima. No, no, no! Not for the world! What estate?
Paul. Why, a village in some good fertile province—Orèl, or somewhere there.
Serafima. Not for anything on earth! The peasants won’t pay; the village may burn down; or the crops will fail five years running; what should we do then?
Paul. Crops don’t fail five years running.
Serafima. But they may do; you’re not a prophet, you know.
Paul. Well then, let’s buy a house and put in tenants.
Serafima. But the tenants won’t pay.
Paul. How do you mean, they won’t pay? One can prosecute if they don’t.
Serafima. And if the house burns down?