ASTROFF. [Annoyed] Thank you. There is nothing for it, then, but
to go. [Looking around him for his cap] Damn it, this is
annoying!

SONIA. Yes, it is too bad, really. You must come back to dinner
from the factory.

ASTROFF. No, I won't be able to do that. It will be too late. Now
where, where-- [To the WORKMAN] Look here, my man, get me a glass
of vodka, will you? [The WORKMAN goes out] Where--where-- [Finds
his cap] One of the characters in Ostroff's plays is a man with a
long moustache and short wits, like me. However, let me bid you
good-bye, ladies and gentlemen. [To HELENA] I should be really
delighted if you would come to see me some day with Miss Sonia.
My estate is small, but if you are interested in such things I
should like to show you a nursery and seed-bed whose like you
will not find within a thousand miles of here. My place is
surrounded by government forests. The forester is old and always
ailing, so I superintend almost all the work myself.

HELENA. I have always heard that you were very fond of the woods.
Of course one can do a great deal of good by helping to preserve
them, but does not that work interfere with your real calling?

ASTROFF. God alone knows what a man's real calling is.

HELENA. And do you find it interesting?

ASTROFF. Yes, very.