KHLESTAKOV [a little halting at first, but toward the end in a loud, firm voice]. Well--what was--to be--done? It's not--my fault. I'm--really going to pay. They will send me money from home. [Bobchinsky peeps in at the door.] He's most to blame. He gives me beef as hard as a board and the soup--the devil knows what he put into it. I ought to have pitched it out of the window. He starves me the whole day. His tea is so peculiar--it smells of fish, not tea. So why should I--The idea! GOVERNOR [scared]. Excuse me! I assure you, it's not my fault. I always have good beef in the market here. The Kholmogory merchants bring it, and they are sober, well-behaved people. I'm sure I don't know where he gets his bad meat from. But if anything is wrong, may I suggest that you allow me to take you to another place? KHLESTAKOV. No, I thank you. I don't care to leave. I know what the other place is--the jail. What right have you, I should like to know--how dare you?--Why, I'm in the government service at St. Petersburg. [Puts on a bold front.] I--I--I-- GOVERNOR [aside]. My God, how angry he is. He has found out everything. Those damned merchants have told him everything. KHLESTAKOV [with bravado]. I won't go even if you come here with your whole force. I'll go straight to the minister. [Bangs his fist on the table.] What do you mean? What do you mean? GOVERNOR [drawing himself up stiffly and shaking all over]. Have pity on me. Don't ruin me. I have a wife and little children. Don't bring misfortune on a man. KHLESTAKOV. No, I won't go. What's that got to do with me? Must I go to jail because you have a wife and little children? Great! [Bobchinsky looks in at the door and disappears in terror.] No, much obliged to you. I will not go. GOVERNOR [trembling]. It was my inexperience. I swear to you, it was nothing but my inexperience and insufficient means. Judge for yourself. The salary I get is not enough for tea and sugar. And if I have taken bribes, they were mere trifles--something for the table, or a coat or two. As for the officer's widow to whom they say I gave a beating, she's in business now, and it's a slander, it's a slander that I beat her. Those scoundrels here invented the lie. They are ready to murder me. That's the kind of people they are. KHLESTAKOV. Well. I've nothing to do with them. [Reflecting.] I don't see, though, why you should talk to me about your scoundrels or officer's widow. An officer's widow is quite a different matter.--But don't you dare to beat me. You can't do it to me--no, sir, you can't. The idea! Look at him! I'll pay, I'll pay the money. Just now I'm out of cash. That's why I stay here--because I haven't a single kopek.