But old Bolshoff has been put in prison by his enraged creditors, while the young couple have been fitting up a new house in gorgeous style on the old merchant's money.

The pettifogging lawyer comes for his promised reward.

Podkhaliuzin cheats him out of it.

The match-maker comes for her two thousand rubles and sable-lined cloak and gets one hundred rubles and a cheap gown.

As these people depart cursing, old Bolshoff is brought in by his guard.
He has come to entreat his wealthy son-in-law to pay the creditors twenty-five per cent and so release him from prison.
Podkhaliuzin declares that this is impossible; the old man has given him his instructions to pay only ten per cent, and really, he cannot afford to pay more.