VOITSKI'S bedroom, which is also his office. A table stands near
the window; on it are ledgers, letter scales, and papers of every
description. Near by stands a smaller table belonging to ASTROFF,
with his paints and drawing materials. On the wall hangs a cage
containing a starling. There is also a map of Africa on the wall,
obviously of no use to anybody. There is a large sofa covered
with buckram. A door to the left leads into an inner room; one to
the right leads into the front hall, and before this door lies a
mat for the peasants with their muddy boots to stand on. It is an
autumn evening. The silence is profound. TELEGIN and MARINA are
sitting facing one another, winding wool.

TELEGIN. Be quick, Marina, or we shall be called away to say
good-bye before you have finished. The carriage has already been
ordered.

MARINA. [Trying to wind more quickly] I am a little tired.

TELEGIN. They are going to Kharkoff to live.

MARINA. They do well to go.

TELEGIN. They have been frightened. The professor's wife won't
stay here an hour longer. "If we are going at all, let's be off,"
says she, "we shall go to Kharkoff and look about us, and then we
can send for our things." They are travelling light. It seems,
Marina, that fate has decreed for them not to live here.

MARINA. And quite rightly. What a storm they have just raised! It