ZINAIDA。Hismisfortuneshavealmostruinedhim，poorman。Hisaffairsareinafrightfulcondition。IfBorkindidnottakesuchgoodchargeofhisestateheandhisJewesswouldsoonbestarvingtodeath。[Shesighs]Andwhatanxietyhehascausedus！
Heavenonlyknowshowwehavesuffered。Doyourealise，mydear，thatforthreeyearshehasowedusninethousandroubles？
MARTHA。[Horrified]Ninethousand！
ZINAIDA。Yes，thatisthesumthatmydearPaulhasundertakentolendhim。Heneverknowstowhomitissafetolendmoneyandtowhomitisnot。Idon’tworryabouttheprincipal，butheoughttopaytheinterestonhisdebt。
SASHA。[Hotly]Mamma，youhavealreadydiscussedthissubjectatleastathousandtimes！