living with the governor, enjoy myself, and flirt with his wife and daughter. These people all lend me as much money as ever I please. The governor is as stupid as a grey gelding. The postmaster is a tippler. The charity commissioner is a pig in a skull-cap."

Postmaster:

Governor: I am crushed—crushed—completely crushed. Catch him!

Governor:

Postmaster: How can we catch him? I, as if purposely, specially ordered for him the very best post-carriage and three horses.

Postmaster:

Governor: What an old fool I am! I have been thirty years in the service; not a tradesman nor contractor could cheat me; rogues upon rogues have I outwitted; three governors-general have I deceived!

Governor:

Anna Andreyevna: But this cannot be, Antosha. He is engaged to Mashenka.

Anna Andreyevna:

Governor (enraged): Engaged! Rubbish! Look, look; all the world, all Christendom, all of you look how the governor is fooled! Fool, fool; old driveller that I am! (Shakes his fist at himself) Ah, you fat-nose! Taking a rag for a man of rank! And now he is jingling his bells along the road. Who first said he was an inspector-general? Answer!

Governor

[All point to Bobchinski and Dobchinski, who fall to accusing each other. A gendarme enters.

Bobchinski

Dobchinski

Gendarme: The inspector-general sent by imperial command has arrived, and requires you to attend him immediately. He awaits you at the inn.

Gendarme:

[Thunderstruck at this announcement, the whole group remained as if petrified, and the curtain falls.

FOOTNOTES:

[C] Nicolai Vasilieyitch Gogol is famous not only as the prince of Russian humorists, but as the real founder of both the modern drama and the novel in Russian literature. He was born on March 31, 1809, in the province of Poltava, in South, or 

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