of it. [Picks his teeth
with his fingers.] Villains! It's as tough as the bark of a tree. I
can't pull it out no matter how hard I try. Such meat is enough to ruin
one's teeth. Crooks! [Wipes his mouth with the napkin.] Is there nothing
else?

SERVANT. No.

KHLESTAKOV. Scoundrels! Blackguards! They might have given some decent
pastry, or something, the lazy good-for-nothings! Fleecing their guests!
That's all they're good for.

[The Servant takes the dishes and carries them out accompanied by Osip.]

SCENE VII

Khlestakov alone.

KHLESTAKOV. It's just as if I had eaten nothing at all, upon my word. It
has only whetted my appetite. If I only had some change to send to the
market and buy some bread.

OSIP [entering]. The Governor has come, I don't know what for. He's
inquiring about you.

KHLESTAKOV [in alarm]. There now! That inn-keeper has gone and made a
complaint against me. Suppose he really claps me into jail? Well! If he
does it in a gentlemanly way, I may--No, no, I won't. The officers and
the people are all out on the street and I set the fashion for them and
the merchant's daughter and I flirted. No, I won't. And pray, who is he?
How dare he, actually? What does he take me for? A tradesman? I'll tell
him straight out, "How dare you? How--"

[The door knob turns and Khlestakov goes pale and shrinks back.]

SCENE VIII

Khlestakov, the Governor, and Dobchinsky.

The Governor advances a few steps and stops. They stare at each other a
few moments wide-eyed and frightened.

GOVERNOR [recovering himself a little and saluting military fashion]. I
have come to present my compliments, sir.

KHLESTAKOV [bows]. How do you do, sir?

GOVERNOR. Excuse my intruding.

KHLESTAKOV. Pray don't mention it.

GOVERNOR. It's my duty as chief magistrate of this town to see that
visitors and persons of rank should suffer no inconveniences.

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