VARLAAM. (Continues.) "And in stature he is small, chest broad, one arm shorter than the other, blue eyes, red hair, a wart on his cheek, another on his forehead." Then is it not you, my friend? (GREGORY suddenly draws a dagger; all give way before him; he dashes through the window.) OFFICERS. Hold him! Hold him! (All run out in disorder.) MOSCOW. SHUISKY'S HOUSE SHUISKY. A number of Guests. Supper SHUISKY. More wine! Now, my dear guests. (He rises; all rise after him.) The final draught! Read the prayer, boy. Boy. Lord of the heavens, Who art Eternally and everywhere, accept The prayer of us Thy servants. For our monarch, By Thee appointed, for our pious tsar, Of all good Christians autocrat, we pray. Preserve him in the palace, on the field Of battle, on his nightly couch; grant to him Victory o'er his foes; from sea to sea May he be glorified; may all his house Blossom with health, and may its precious branches O'ershadow all the earth; to us, his slaves, May he, as heretofore, be generous. Gracious, long-suffering, and may the founts Of his unfailing wisdom flow upon us; Raising the royal cup, Lord of the heavens, For this we pray. SHUISKY. (Drinks.) Long live our mighty sovereign! Farewell, dear guests. I thank you that ye scorned not My bread and salt. Farewell; good-night. (Exeunt Guests: he conducts them to the door.) PUSHKIN. Hardly could they tear themselves away; indeed, Prince Vassily Ivanovitch, I began to think that we should not succeed in getting any private talk. SHUISKY. (To the Servants.) You there, why do you stand Gaping? Always eavesdropping on gentlemen! Clear the table, and then be off. (Exeunt Servants.) What is it, Athanasius Mikailovitch? PUSHKIN. Such a wondrous thing! A message was sent here to me today From Cracow by my nephew Gabriel Pushkin. SHUISKY. Well? PUSHKIN. 'Tis strange news my nephew writes. The son Of the Terrible--But stay-- (Goes to the door and examines it.) The royal boy, Who murdered was by order of Boris-- SHUISKY. But these are no new tidings. PUSHKIN. Wait a little; Dimitry lives. SHUISKY. So that's it! News indeed! Dimitry living!--Really marvelous! And is that all? PUSHKIN. Pray listen to the end; Whoe'er he be, whether he be Dimitry Rescued, or else some spirit in his shape, Some daring rogue, some insolent pretender, In any case Dimitry has appeared. SHUISKY. It cannot be. PUSHKIN. Pushkin himself beheld him When first he reached the court, and through the ranks Of Lithuanian gentlemen went straight Into the secret chamber of the king. SHUISKY. What kind of man? Whence comes he?