Interior of hut, full of people, some sitting round tables and others standing. In the front corner Akoulína and the Bridegroom. On one of the tables an Icón and a loaf of rye-bread. Among the visitors are Marína, her husband, and a Police Officer, also a Hired Driver, the Matchmaker, and the Best Man. The women are singing. Anísya carries round the drink. The singing stops.

THE DRIVER. If we are to go, let's go! The church ain't so neagor.

THE BEST MAN. All right; you wait a bit till the step-father has given his blessing. But where is he?

ANÍSYA.
He is coming—coming at once, dear friends! Have another glass all of you; don't refuse!

THE MATCHMAKER.
Why is he so long? We've been waiting such a time!

ANÍSYA.
He's coming; coming directly, coming in no time! He'll be here before one could plait a girl's hair who's had her hair cropped! Drink, friends! [Offers the drink] Coming at once! Sing again, my pets, meanwhile!

THE DRIVER.
They've sung all their songs, waiting here!

The women sing. Nikíta and Akím enter during the singing.

NIKÍTA
[holds his father's arm and pushes him in before him] Go, father; I can't do without you!

AKÍM.
I don't like—I mean what d'ye call it …

NIKÍTA
[to the women] Enough! Be quiet! [Looks round the hut] Marína, are you there?

THE MATCHMAKER.
Go, take the icón, and give them your blessing!

NIKÍTA.
Wait a while! [Looks round] Akoulína, are you there?

MATCHMAKER.
What are you calling everybody for? Where should she be? How queer he seems!

ANÍSYA.
Gracious goodness! Why, he's barefoot!

NIKÍTA.
Father, you are here! Look at me! Christian Commune, you are all here, and I am here! I am … [Falls on his knees].

ANÍSYA.
Nikíta darling, what's the matter with you? Oh my head, my head!

MATCHMAKER.
Here's a go!

MATRYÓNA.
I did say he was taking too much of that French wine! Come to your senses; what are you about?

They try to lift him; he takes no heed of them, but looks in front of him.

NIKÍTA.
Christian Commune! I have sinned, and I wish to confess!

MATRYÓNA
[shakes him by the shoulder] Are you mad? Dear friends, he's gone crazy! He must be taken away!

NIKÍTA
[shakes her off] Leave me alone! And you, father, hear me! And first, Marína, look here! [Bows to the ground to her and rises] I have sinned towards you! I promised to marry you, I tempted you, and forsook you! Forgive me, in Christ's name! [Again bows to the ground before her].

ANÍSYA.
And what are you drivelling about? It's not becoming! No one wants to know! Get up! It's like your impudence!

MATRYÓNA.
Oh, oh, he's bewitched! And however did it happen? It's a spell! Get up! what nonsense are you jabbering? [Pulls him].

NIKÍTA
[shakes his head] Don't touch me! Forgive me my sin towards you, Marína! Forgive me, for Christ's sake!

Marína covers her face with her hands in silence.

ANÍSYA.
Get up, I tell you! Don't be so impudent! What are you thinking about—to recall it? Enough humbug! It's shameful! Oh my poor head! He's quite crazy!

NIKÍTA
[pushes his wife away and turns to Akoulína] Akoulína, now I'll speak to you! Listen, Christian Commune! I'm a fiend, Akoulína! I have sinned against you! Your father died no natural death! He was poisoned!

ANÍSYA
[screams] Oh my head! What's he about?

MATRYÓNA.
The man's beside himself! Lead him away!

The folk come up and try to seize him.

AKÍM
[motions them back with his arms] Wait! You lads, what d'ye call it, wait, I mean!

NIKÍTA.
Akoulína, I poisoned him! Forgive me, in Christ's name!

AKOULÍNA
[jumps up] He's telling lies! I know who did it!

MATCHMAKER.
What are you about? You sit still!

AKÍM.
Oh Lord, what sins, what sins!

POLICE OFFICER.
Seize him, and send for the Elder! We must draw up an indictment and have witnesses to it! Get up and come here!

AKÍM
[to Police Officer] Now you—with the bright buttons—I mean, you wait! Let him, what d'ye call it, speak out, I mean!

POLICE OFFICER.
Mind, old man, and don't interfere! I have to draw up an indictment!

AKÍM.
Eh, what a fellow you are; wait, I say! Don't talk, I mean, about, what d'ye call it, 'ditements! Here God's work is being done.… A man is confessing, I mean! And you, what d'ye call it … 'ditements!

POLICE OFFICER.
The Elder!

AKÍM. Let God's work be done, I mean, and then you, I mean, you do your business!

NIKÍTA.
And, Akoulína, my sin is great towards you; I seduced you; forgive me in Christ's name! [Bows to the ground before her].

AKOULÍNA
[leaves the table] Let me go! I shan't be married! He told me to, but I shan't now!

POLICE
OFFICER. Repeat what you have said.


NIKÍTA.
Wait, sir, let me finish!

AKÍM
[with rapture] Speak, my son! Tell everything—you'll feel better! Confess to God, don't fear men! God—God! It is He!

NIKÍTA.
I poisoned the father, dog that I am, and I ruined the daughter! She was in my power, and I ruined her, and her baby!

AKOULÍNA.
True, that's true!

NIKÍTA.
I smothered the baby in the cellar with a board! I sat on it and smothered it—and its bones crunched! [Weeps] And I buried it! I did it, all alone!

AKOULÍNA.
He raves! I told him to!

NIKÍTA.
Don't shield me! I fear no one now! Forgive me, Christian Commune! [Bows to the ground].

Silence.

POLICE OFFICER.
Bind him! The marriage is evidently off!

Men come up with their belts.

NIKÍTA.
Wait, there's plenty of time! [Bows to the ground before his father] Father, dear father, forgive me too,—fiend that I am! You told me from the first, when I took to bad ways, you said then, “If a claw is caught, the bird is lost!” I would not listen to your words, dog that I was, and it has turned out as you said! Forgive me, for Christ's sake!

AKÍM
[rapturously] God will forgive you, my own son! [Embraces him] You have had no mercy on yourself, He will show mercy on you! God—God! It is He!

Enter Elder.

ELDER.
There are witnesses enough here.

POLICE OFFICER.
We will have the examination at once.

Nikíta is bound.

AKOULÍNA
[goes and stands by his side] I shall tell the truth! Ask me!

NIKÍTA
[bound] No need to ask! I did it all myself. The design was mine, and the deed was mine. Take me where you like. I will say no more!