with my old mother and me and with Sonia here?

SEREBRAKOFF. That will be decided in due time. We can't do
everything at once.

VOITSKI. Wait! It is clear that until this moment I have never
had a grain of sense in my head. I have always been stupid enough
to think that the estate belonged to Sonia. My father bought it
as a wedding present for my sister, and I foolishly imagined that
as our laws were made for Russians and not Turks, my sister's
estate would come down to her child.

SEREBRAKOFF. Of course it is Sonia's. Has any one denied it? I
don't want to sell it without Sonia's consent; on the contrary,
what I am doing is for Sonia's good.

VOITSKI. This is absolutely incomprehensible. Either I have gone
mad or--or--

MME. VOITSKAYA. Jean, don't contradict Alexander. Trust to him;
he knows better than we do what is right and what is wrong.

VOITSKI. I shan't. Give me some water. [He drinks] Go ahead! Say
anything you please--anything!

SEREBRAKOFF. I can't imagine why you are so upset. I don't
pretend that my scheme is an ideal one, and if you all object to
it I shall not insist. [A pause.]

TELEGIN. [With embarrassment] I not only nourish feelings of