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 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?