 Popova agrees to meet with him and Smirnov explains to her that her late husband owes him a sum of 1,200 roubles as a debt.Because he is a landowner, Smirnov explains that he needs the sum paid to him on that same day to pay for the mortgage of a house due the next day.Popova explains that she has no money with her and that she will settle her husband's debts when her steward arrives the day after tomorrow.