LIPA

Look here, Savva.  You are not immortal, and the two-legged animal has arms also.

SAVVA

Do you think I don’t know that every one of these stupid asses would be glad to kill me?  But it won’t happen, it won’t happen.  The time has come for my arrival, and I have arrived.  Prepare yourselves.  The time has come.  You little insignificant thing there—­you thought that by stealing one little possibility away from me you could rob me of all?  Oh no—­I am as rich as ever.

LIPA

I am your sister, but oh! how glad I am that you are not immortal.

SAVVA

I see that you are a thoroughgoing anarchist.  They too think that all is done if one man is killed.  But if they kill me, hang me, break me on the wheel, there will come another purer than I. Where there’s an itch, there is always somebody to scratch it!  Yes, sister!  If not I, then someone else, and (clenching his fist) it will fare ill with your world.

LIPA

You are a terrible man.  I thought you would be crushed by your failure, but you are like Satan.  The fall has only made you blacker.

SAVVA

Yes, Lipa, only a sparrow can fly straight up from the ground.  A large bird must descend to adjust and spread its wings for its upward flight.

LIPA

Aren’t you sorry for the children?  Think of the number of children that will have to perish.

SAVVA

What children?  Oh yes, Misha. (Tenderly) Misha is a fine boy, that’s true.  When he grows up, he will show you no mercy.  Yes, the children—­You are beginning to be afraid of them, and you have good reason for it.  Never mind.  It’s true that I love children. (With pride) And they love me.  But they don’t care for you.

LIPA

I don’t play jackstones with them.

SAVVA

How silly you are, sister.  But I like to play with them.

LIPA

Then go ahead and play.

SAVVA

Well, I will play.

LIPA

When you talk like that I have the feeling once more that it has all been a dream—­all that we were saying just now.  Is it really true that you want to kill me?

SAVVA

Yes, if it must be done.  But perhaps it won’t be necessary.