The people here are all right ... The police are fast asleep in
their feather beds now. ... [Loudly] Orthodox brothers, mind your
pockets and your clothes, or you'll have to regret it. The man's
a rascal! He'll rob you!

MERIK. They can look out for their money, but as to their clothes--
I shan't touch them. I've nowhere to take them.

TIHON. Where's the devil taking you to?

MERIK. To Kuban.

TIHON. My word!

FEDYA. To Kuban? Really? [Sitting up] It's a fine place. You
wouldn't see such a country, brother, if you were to fall asleep
and dream for three years. They say the birds there, and the beasts
are--my God! The grass grows all the year round, the people are
good, and they've so much land they don't know what to do with it!
The authorities, they say ... a soldier was telling me the other
day ... give a hundred dessiatins ahead. There's happiness, God
strike me!

MERIK. Happiness. ... Happiness goes behind you. ... You don't see
it. It's as near as your elbow is, but you can't bite it. It's all
silly. ... [Looking round at the benches and the people] Like a lot
of prisoners. ... A poor lot.

EFIMOVNA. [To MERIK] What great, angry, eyes! There's an enemy in
you, young man. ... Don't you look at us!