The Poor Bride

SCENE VIII.

Greetings! Well? What is it? Speak quickly. (Both are silent). Why are you silent?

Let her speak first; she has the noble ones.

Well, speak, Pankratyevna!

I have two suitors, Anna Petrovna. They are such gentlemen, it is a miracle.

What are they like?

They are civil servants, my dear, noble men.

And do they have any means?

They are in service, my dear, they receive a salary.

And how do they live?

They live well. One writes poetry, the other sings all day long. And they are so polite, and so prone to falling in love. "As soon as I see a pretty young lady," he says, "I would marry her right away, without looking at anything else."

And what is their rank?

Their ranks are not high, but they are very handsome men.

They are paupers, as far as I can see.