POSTMASTER [continuing to read]. H'm, h'm--"an old horse. The Postmaster is a good man, too." [Stops reading.] Well, here he's saying something improper about me, too. GOVERNOR. Go on--read the rest. POSTMASTER. What for? GOVERNOR. The deuce take it! Once we have begun to read it, we must read it all. ARTEMY. If you will allow me, I will read it. [Puts on his eye-glasses and reads.] "The Postmaster is just like the porter Mikheyev in our office, and the scoundrel must drink just as hard." POSTMASTER [to the audience]. A bad boy! He ought to be given a licking. That's all. ARTEMY [continues to read]. "The Superintendent of Char-i-i--" [Stammers.] KOROBKIN. Why did you stop? ARTEMY. The handwriting isn't clear. Besides, it's evident that he's a blackguard. KOROBKIN. Give it to me. I believe my eyesight is better. ARTEMY [refusing to give up the letter]. No. This part can be omitted. After that it's legible. KOROBKIN. Let me have it please. I'll see for myself. ARTEMY. I can read it myself. I tell you that after this part it's all legible. POSTMASTER. No, read it all. Everything so far could be read. ALL. Give him the letter, Artemy Filippovich, give it to him. [To Korobkin.] You read it. ARTEMY. Very well. [Gives up the letter.] Here it is. [Covers a part of it with his finger.] Read from here on. [All press him.] POSTMASTER. Read it all, nonsense, read it all. KOROBKIN [reading]. "The Superintendent of Charities, Zemlianika, is a regular pig in a cap." ARTEMY [to the audience]. Not a bit witty. A pig in a cap! Have you ever seen a pig wear a cap? KOROBKIN [continues reading]. "The School Inspector reeks of onions." LUKA [to the audience]. Upon my word, I never put an onion to my mouth. AMMOS [aside]. Thank God, there's nothing about me in it. KOROBKIN [continues reading]. "The Judge--" AMMOS. There! [Aloud.] Ladies and gentlemen, I think the letter is far too long. To the devil with it! Why should we go on reading such trash? LUKA. No. POSTMASTER. No, go on. ARTEMY. Go on reading. KOROBKIN. "The Judge, Liapkin-Tiapkin, is extremely mauvais ton." [He stops.] That must be a French word. AMMOS. The devil knows what it means. It wouldn't be so bad if all it means is "cheat." But it may mean something worse. KOROBKIN [continues reading]. "However, the people are hospitable and kindhearted. Farewell, my dear Triapichkin. I want to follow your example and take up literature. It's tiresome to live this way, old boy. One wants food for the mind, after all. I see I must engage in something lofty. Address me: Village of Podkatilovka in the Government of Saratov." [Turns the letter and reads the address.] "Mr. Ivan Vasilyevich Triapichkin, St. Petersburg, Pochtamtskaya Street, House Number 97, Courtyard, third floor, right." A LADY. What an unexpected rebuke!