Fruits of Culture

Act I

The entrance hall of a wealthy house in Moscow. There are three doors:

the front door, the door of LEOND FYDORITCH'S study, and the door of

VASLY LEONDITCH'S room. A staircase leads up to the other rooms;

behind it is another door leading to the servants' quarters.

SCENE I

GREGORY (looks at himself in the glass and arranges his hair, etc.). I

am sorry about those moustaches of mine! "Moustaches are not becoming

to a footman," she says! And why? Why, so that any one might see

you're a footman,--else my looks might put her darling son to shame.

He's a likely one! There's not much fear of his coming anywhere near

me, moustaches or no moustaches! (Smiling into the glass.) And what a

lot of 'em swarm round me. And yet I don't care for any of them as

much as for that Tnya. And she only a lady's-maid! Ah well, she's

nicer than any young lady. (Smiles.) She's a duck! (Listening.) Ah,

here she comes. (Smiles.) Yes, that's her, clattering with her little

heels. Oh!