Patiomkin，followedbyVarinka，carriesEdstastonin：dumpshimdownonthefootofthebed：andstaggerspastittothecabinetdoor。Varinkajoinsthecourtiersattheoppositesideoftheroom。Catherine，blazingwithwrath，pushesEdstastonoffherbedontothefloor：getsoutofbed：andturnsonPatiomkinwithsoterribleanexpressionthatallkneeldownhastilyexceptEdstaston，whoissprawlingonthecarpetinangryconfusion。
CATHERINE。Patiomkin，howdareyou？[LookingatEdstaston。]Whatisthis？
PATIOMKIN[onhisknees，tearfully]。Idon’tknow。Iamdrunk。
Whatisthis，Varinka？
EDSTASTON[scramblingtohisfeet]。Madam，thisdrunkenruffian——