YEGOR

What are they talking about?

SAVVA

Father, what's the matter with your face? Have you sooted it? It looks as black as Satan's.

YEGOR _(quickly putting his hand to his face)_

Where?

SPERANSKY

They are just making fun. There is nothing on your face, Mr. Tropinin.

YEGOR

The fool! Satan? You are Satan yourself, G.o.d forgive me!

SAVVA _(making a terrible face and holding up his fingers in the shape of horns)_ I am the devil.

YEGOR

By G.o.d, you are the very devil himself!

SAVVA _(glancing round the room)_

Isn't the devil going to get any dinner to-day? I have had all I want of sinners. I am surfeited with them. I should like to have something more appetizing now.

YEGOR

Where were you knocking about at the regular dinner hour? You'll have to do without dinner now.

SAVVA

I was with the children, father, with the children. They told me stories. They tell stories splendidly, and they were all about devils, witches, and the dead--your specialty, philosopher. They trembled with fear as they told them. That's why we stayed so long. They were afraid to go home. Misha was the only one who wasn't scared. He is a brick.

He's afraid of nothing.

SPERANSKY _(indifferently)_

What of it? He'll die too.

SAVVA

My dear sir, don't be so funereal. You are like an undertakers' trust.

Don't be forever croaking: "Die, die, die." Here, take my father, for instance. He'll soon die; but look at his face, how pleasant and cheerful it is.

YEGOR

Satan! You're the devil incarnate!

SPERANSKY

But since we don't know--

SAVVA

My good friend, life is such an interesting business. You understand--life. Come, let's have a game of jackstones to-morrow.

I'll provide the jacks, first-cla.s.s jacks. _(Enter Lipa, unnoticed)_ And then you should take gymnastic exercises. I mean it seriously. See how sunken your chest is. You'll choke of consumption in a year or so.

The deaconess will be glad, but it will create consternation among the dead. Seriously now. I have taken gymnastic exercises. Look. _(He lifts a heavy chair easily by the leg)_ There, you see!

LIPA _(laughing aloud)_

Ha, ha, ha!

SAVVA _(putting the chair down, with a touch of embarra.s.sment)_

What's the matter? I didn't know you were here.

LIPA

You, ought to join the circus as an acrobat.

SAVVA _(glumly)_

Don't talk nonsense.

LIPA

Are you offended?

SAVVA _(suddenly bursting into a good-natured, merry laugh)_ Oh, a trifle! All right, the circus, why not? We'll both join it, Speransky and I. Not as acrobats though, but as clowns. How about it? Can you swallow hot junk? No? Well, I'll teach you. As for you, Lipa, won't you please let me have something to eat? I haven't had anything since this morning.

YEGOR

A regular Satan, a regular Satan! Hasn't had anything to eat! Who has ever heard of eating at this hour of the night? Who has ever seen such a thing?

SAVVA

I'll give you a chance to see it now. It's very interesting. Wait, I'll teach you also how to swallow hot junk. I'll make you an expert.

You'll be a wonder.

YEGOR

Me? Fool, you can't teach me anything any more. Tony, give me the whiskey.

TONY

I won't.