Comedy plays; Russia -- Social life and customs -- Drama; Russian drama -- Translations into English
I don't spare anybody. I tell
them all, "I know myself, I know myself." I am everywhere, everywhere. I
go to Court daily. Tomorrow they are going to make me a field-marsh--
He slips and almost falls, but is respectfully held up by the officials.
GOVERNOR [walks up to him trembling from top to toe and speaking with a
great effort]. Your Ex-ex-ex- KHLESTAKOV [curtly]. What is it?
GOVERNOR. Your Ex-ex-ex- KHLESTAKOV [as before]. I can't make out a
thing, it's all nonsense.
GOVERNOR. Your Ex-ex--Your 'lency--Your Excellency, wouldn't you like to
rest a bit? Here's a room and everything you may need.
KHLESTAKOV. Nonsense--rest! However, I'm ready for a rest. Your lunch
was fine, gentlemen. I am satisfied, I am satisfied. [Declaiming.]
Labardan! Labardan!
He goes into the next room followed by the Governor.
SCENE VII
The same without Khlestakov and the Governor.
BOBCHINSKY [to Dobchinsky]. There's a man for you, Piotr Ivanovich.
That's what I call a man. I've never in my life been in the presence of
so important a personage. I almost died of fright. What do you think is
his rank, Piotr Ivanovich?
DOBCHINSKY. I think he's almost a general.
BOBCHINSKY. And I think a general isn't worth the sole of his boots. But
if he is a general, then he must be the generalissimo himself. Did you
hear how he bullies the Imperial Council? Come, let's hurry off to
Ammos Fiodorovich and Korobkin and tell them about it. Good-by, Anna
Andreyevna.
DOBCHINSKY. Good afternoon, godmother.
Both go out.
ARTEMY. It makes your heart sink and you don't know why. We haven't
even our uniforms on. Suppose after he wakes up from his nap he goes and
sends a report about us to St. Petersburg. [He goes out sunk in thought,
with the School Inspector, both saying.] Good-by, madam.
SCENE VIII
Anna Andreyevna and Marya Antonovna.
ANNA. Oh, how charming he is!
MARYA. A perfect dear!
ANNA. Such refined manners. You can recognize the big city article at
once. How he carries himself, and all that sort of thing! Exquisite! I'm
just crazy for young men like him. I am in ecstasies--beside myself. He
liked me very much though. I noticed he kept looking at me all the time.
MARYA. Oh, mamma, he looked at me.
ANNA. No more nonsense please. It's out of place now.
MARYA. But really, mamma, he did look at me.
ANNA. There you go! For God's sake, don't argue. You mustn't. That's
enough. What would he be looking at you for? Please tell me, why would
he be looking at you?
MARYA. It's true, mamma. He kept looking at me. He looked at me when he
began to speak about literature and he looked at me afterwards, when he
told about how he played whist with the ambassadors.
ANNA. Well, maybe he looked at you once or twice and might have said to
himself, "Oh, well, I'll give her a look."
SCENE IX
The same and the Governor.
GOVERNOR. Sh-sh!
ANNA. What is it?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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