KUDRIASH (stops singing). Hullo! Such a sober, staid person as you, out on the spree too?

BORIS. Kudriash, is that you?

KUDRIASH. It is, Boris Grigoritch.

BORIS. What are you here for?

KUDRIASH. What for? I suppose because I want to be here, Boris Grigoritch, since I am here. I shouldn't have come if I hadn't wanted to. Where is fortune taking you?

BORIS (looking carefully at the scene around him). Look here, Kudriash, I've got to stop here, and I've no doubt it's all the same to you, so you might go and sit in some other place.

KUDRIASH. No, Boris Grigoritch, you're here, I perceive, for the first time, but this is a place where I have often sat, and this little path has been trodden by my feet. I like you, sir, and am ready to do you any service; but you'll kindly refrain from meeting me in this path at night, lest evil come of it. Fair words are better than gold.

BORIS. What is the matter with you, Vania?

KUDRIASH. Vania, indeed! I know my name's Vania. But you go on your way, that's all about it. Find a girl to your liking, and walk out with her to your heart's content, and no one will say a word to you. But don't meddle with other fellows' girls! That's not the way we do things here, or the fellows will break your legs for you. For my girl ... Well, I don't know what I wouldn't do! I'd cut your throat!

BORIS. You're angry for no reason; I've not the slightest idea of robbing you of her. I shouldn't have come here if I hadn't been told to.

KUDRIASH. Who told you to?

BORIS. I couldn't make out, it was dark. A girl stopped me in the street and said I was to come just here, behind the Kabanovs' garden, where there is a little path.

KUDRIASH. Who could that be?

BORIS. Listen, Kudriash. Could I speak to you openly, you wouldn't gossip?

KUDRIASH. You needn't be afraid of that! I'm as safe as the grave.

BORIS. I know nothing of your habits and ways of doing things here; but the fact is ...

KUDRIASH. You're in love.

BORIS. Yes, Kudriash.

KUDRIASH. Oh, well, that's all right. We're free enough in that way. The girls amuse themselves as they like, and the father and mother have nothing to say to it. It's only the wives are kept shut up.

BORIS. That's just what's so sad.

KUDRIASH. You don't mean to say you're in love with a married woman?

BORIS. She is married, Kudriash.

KUDRIASH. Ah, Boris Grigoritch, you must drop that!

BORIS. It's easy to say drop it! I daresay it's all the same to you, you'll throw up one and pick up another easily enough! But I can't do like that! If once I love ...

KUDRIASH. That's as much as to say you're ready to ruin the poor thing completely, Boris Grigoritch!

BORIS. God forbid! God forbid! No, Kudriash, how can you! I ready to ruin her! I only want to see her, to speak to her, I ask for nothing more.

KUDRIASH. You can't answer for yourself like that, sir! And just think what sort of people you have to deal with here. You know them yourself. They'd be the death of her, they'd torment her into the grave.

BORIS. Ah, don't say that, Kudriash, please don't frighten me!

KUDRIASH. But does she care for you?

BORIS. I don't know.

KUDRIASH. Have you ever met then?

BORIS. I have only once been in their house with my uncle. And I see her in church, and pass her sometimes on the parade. Ah, Kudriash, how she prays, if you could see her! the angelic smile on her face! her face seems to shed light.

KUDRIASH. Oh, then it's the young wife of Kabanov.

BORIS. Yes, Kudriash.

KUDRIASH. Oh, so that's it! Well, I humbly congratulate you!

BORIS. What for?

KUDRIASH. Well, things look promising for you, since she's sent you word to come here.

BORIS. Can it be she sent word?

KUDRIASH. Why, who else could it be?

BORIS. No, you're making fun of me! It can't be so. (Clutches his head.)

KUDRIASH. What's the matter?

BORIS. I shall go mad with joy.

KUDRIASH. What next! I can't see anything to go mad about! You look out that you don't make a mess of things and get her into trouble! Her husband's a fool, we all know, but her mother-in-law is terrible.

[Varvara comes out of the gate.