AMMOS. No, no. First send the chief magistrate, then the clergy, then the merchants. That's what it says in the book. The Acts of John the Freemason. GOVERNOR. No, no, leave it to me. I have been in difficult situations before now. They have passed off all right, and I was even rewarded with thanks. Maybe the Lord will help us out this time, too. [Turns to Bobchinsky.] You say he's a young man? BOBCHINSKY. Yes, about twenty-three or four at the most. GOVERNOR. So much the better. It's easier to pump things out of a young man. It's tough if you've got a hardened old devil to deal with. But a young man is all on the surface. You, gentlemen, had better see to your end of things while I go unofficially, by myself, or with Dobchinsky here, as though for a walk, to see that the visitors that come to town are properly accommodated. Here, Svistunov. [To one of the Sergeants.] SVISTUNOV. Sir. GOVERNOR. Go instantly to the Police Captain--or, no, I'll want you. Tell somebody to send him here as quickly as possibly and then come back. Svistunov hurries off. ARTEMY. Let's go, let's go, Ammos Fiodorovich. We may really get into trouble. AMMOS. What have you got to be afraid of? Put clean nightcaps on the patients and the thing's done. ARTEMY. Nightcaps! Nonsense! The patients were ordered to have oatmeal soup. Instead of that there's such a smell of cabbage in all the corridors that you've got to hold your nose. AMMOS. Well, my mind's at ease. Who's going to visit the court? Supposing he does look at the papers, he'll wish he had left them alone. I have been on the bench fifteen years, and when I take a look into a report, I despair. King Solomon in all his wisdom could not tell what is true and what is not true in it. The Judge, the Superintendent of Charities, the School Inspector, and Postmaster go out and bump up against the Sergeant in the doorway as the latter returns. SCENE IV The Governor, Bobchinsky, Dobchinsky, and Sergeant Svistunov. GOVERNOR. Well, is the cab ready? SVISTUNOV. Yes, sir. GOVERNOR. Go out on the street--or, no, stop--go and bring--why, where are the others? Why are you alone? Didn't I give orders for Prokhorov to be here? Where is Prokhorov? SVISTUNOV. Prokhorov is in somebody's house and can't go on duty just now. GOVERNOR. Why so? SVISTUNOV. Well, they brought him back this morning dead drunk. They poured two buckets of water over him, but he hasn't sobered up yet. GOVERNOR [clutching his head with both hands]. For Heaven's sake! Go out on duty quick--or, no, run up to my room, do you hear? And fetch my sword and my new hat. Now, Piotr Ivanovich, [to Dobchinsky] come. BOBCHINSKY. And me--me, too. Let me come, too, Anton Antonovich. GOVERNOR. No, no, Bobchinsky, it won't do. Besides there is not enough room in the cab. BOBCHINSKY. Oh, that doesn't matter. I'll follow the cab on foot--on foot. I just want to peep through a crack--so--to see that manner of his--how he acts.