and sees the Cook.) Pardon? What is this? (Baroness walks over to the group.)
Anna Pávlovna (to Cook). Who let in the peasants?
Cook. Yákov brought them here.
Anna Pávlovna. Who told Yákov to bring them?
Cook. I can't tell you. Fédor Iványch has seen them.
Anna Pávlovna. Leoníd!
(Leoníd Fedorovich does not hear, being busy with mind-reading, and says: "Hush!")
Anna Pávlovna. Fédor Iványch! What does this mean? Did you not see me disinfect the antechamber? And now you have infected the whole kitchen! Black bread, kvas,—
Fédor Iványch. I thought that it was not dangerous in here, and the men have come on business. It is far for them to go elsewhere, and they are away from their village.
Anna Pávlovna. That is the trouble: they are from a Kursk village, where they are dying from diphtheria like flies. The main thing is I ordered them away from the house! Did I order so or not? (Walks over to the group gathered about the peasants.) Be careful! Don't touch them! They are infected with diphtheria!
(Nobody pays any attention to her. She walks away with dignity, and stands motionless, in expectation.)
Petríshchev (snuffles aloud). I don't know about diphtheria, but there is some other infection in the air. Do you smell it?
Betsy. Stop your nonsense! Vovó, in which wallet is it?
Vasíli Leonídych. In that one, in that. He is going up to it, he is going up!
Petríshchev. What is this? Spirits or spirit?
Betsy. Now your cigarettes would be in place. Smoke,
