Without a dowry / Бесприданница. Книга для чтения на английском языке

You say it’s making a lot of headway?

Ivan. A lot. An awful lot! It runs faster than the Flier, they’ve timed it.

Gavrilo. It’s him, sir.

Vozhevatov (to Ivan). You tell us when they start coming aside.

Ivan. Yes, sir. I suppose they’ll shoot from the cannon.

Gavrilo. They’re sure to.

Vozhevatov. What cannon?

Gavrilo. He has his own barges anchored in the middle of the Volga.

Vozhevatov. I know.

Gavrilo. One barge has a cannon. Whenever somebody meets Sergey Sergeyich or sees him off they always fire a salute.

(Looking beyond the coffee house.) There’s one of Chirkov’s carriages going for him now, sir. They must have let Chirkov know he’d be coming, for Chirkov himself is on the box. That’s him they’re going for, sir.

Vozhevatov. But how do you know it’s for him?

Gavrilo. They’ve got four pacers lined up, it’s really for him. Who else would Chirkov make up four horses for? It’s even scary to look at them… they’re like lions… all four with snaffle bits! And the harness, the harness! They’re going for him, sir.

Ivan. And there’s a gypsy sitting on the box with Chirkov, he has a fancy Cossack coat on, and his belt’s so tight he could snap in two.

Gavrilo. They’re going after him, sir. It couldn’t be anyone else with four horses like those. It’s him, sir.

Knurov. Paratov lives in style.

Vozhevatov. Whatever else, he has plenty of style.

Knurov. Are you buying the boat cheap?

Vozhevatov. Cheap, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov. Yes, of course; otherwise, what’s the advantage of buying? Why is he selling it?

Vozhevatov. I suppose he doesn’t find any profit in it.

Knurov. Of course, how could he! That’s no business for a gentleman. But you’ll make a profit, especially if you buy it cheap.

Vozhevatov. It suits our purpose; we have a lot of cargo down the river.

Knurov. Maybe he needs the money… he’s a great spender, you know.

Vozhevatov. That’s his business. We have the money ready.

Knurov. Yes, with money a man can do business. (With a smile.) A man who has a lot of money, Vasily Danilych, that man’s in good shape.

Vozhevatov. How could he be in bad shape! You yourself know that better than any one, Moky Parmenych.

Knurov. I know it, I know it.

Vozhevatov. Moky Parmenych, couldn’t we have a cool drink?

Knurov. What do you mean, it’s still morning! I haven’t eaten yet.

Vozhevatov. That doesn’t matter, sir.