hand.
GOVERNOR. What are you talking about? Mother has lost her wits. Please
do not be angry, your Excellency. She has a touch of insanity. Her
mother was like that, too.
KHLESTAKOV. Yes, I am really asking for your daughter's hand. I am in
love with her.
GOVERNOR. I cannot believe it, your Excellency.
ANNA. But when you are told!
KHLESTAKOV. I am not joking. I could go crazy, I am so in love.
GOVERNOR. I daren't believe it. I am unworthy of such an honor.
KHLESTAKOV. If you don't consent to give me your daughter Marya
Antonovna's hand, then I am ready to do the devil knows what.
GOVERNOR. I cannot believe it. You deign to joke, your Excellency.
ANNA. My, what a blockhead! Really! When you are told over and over
again!
GOVERNOR. I can't believe it.
KHLESTAKOV. Give her to me, give her to me! I am a desperate man and
I may do anything. If I shoot myself, you will have a law-suit on your
hands.
GOVERNOR. Oh, my God! I am not guilty either in thought or in action.
Please do not be angry. Be pleased to act as your mercy wills. Really,
my head is in such a state I don't know what is happening. I have turned
into a worse fool than I've ever been in my life.
ANNA. Well, give your blessing.
Khlestakov goes up to Marya Antonovna.
GOVERNOR. May God bless you, but I am not guilty.
(Khlestakov kisses
Marya. The Governor looks at them.)
What the devil! It's really so.
(Rubs his eyes.)
They are kissing. Oh, heavens! They are kissing.
Actually to be our son-in-law!
(Cries out, jumping with glee.)
Ho,
Anton! Ho, Anton! Ho, Governor! So that's the turn events have taken!
Scene XVI
The same and Osip.
OSIP. The horses are ready.
KHLESTAKOV. Oh! All right. I'll come presently.
GOVERNOR. What's that? Are you leaving?
KHLESTAKOV. Yes, I'm going.
GOVERNOR. Then when—that is—I thought you were pleased to hint at a
wedding.
KHLESTAKOV. Oh—for one minute only—for one day—to my uncle, a rich
old man. I'll be back tomorrow.
GOVERNOR. We would not venture, of course, to hold you back, and we hope
for your safe return.
KHLESTAKOV. Of course, of course, I'll come back at once. Good-by, my
dear—no, I simply can't express my feelings. Good-by, my heart.
(Kisses
Marya's hand.)
GOVERNOR. Don't you need something for the road? It seems to me you were
pleased to be short of cash.
KHLESTAKOV, Oh, no, what for?
(After a little thought.)
However, if you
like.
GOVERNOR. How much will you have?
KHLESTAKOV. You gave me two hundred then, that is, not two hundred, but
four hundred—I don't want to take advantage of your mistake—you might
let me have the same now so that it should be an even eight hundred.
GOVERNOR. Very well.
(Takes the money out of his pocket-book.)
The notes
happen to be brand-new, too, as though on purpose.
KHLESTAKOV. Oh, yes.
(Takes the bills and looks at them.)
That's good.
They say new money means good luck.
GOVERNOR. Quite right.
KHLESTAKOV. Good-by, Anton Antonovich. I am very much obliged to you for
your hospitality. I admit with all my heart that I have never got such
a good reception anywhere. Good-by, Anna Andreyevna. Good-by, my
sweet-heart, Marya Antonovna.
All go out.
Behind the Scenes.
KHLESTAKOV. Good-by, angel of my soul, Marya Antonovna.
GOVERNOR. What's that? You are going in a plain mail-coach?
KHLESTAKOV. Yes, I'm used to it. I get a headache from a carriage with
springs.
POSTILION. Ho!
GOVERNOR. Take a rug for the seat at least. If you say so, I'll tell
them to bring a rug.
KHLESTAKOV. No, what for? It's not necessary. However, let them bring a
rug if you please.
GOVERNOR. Ho, Avdotya. Go to the store-room and bring the very best rug
from there, the Persian rug with the blue ground. Quick!
POSTILION. Ho!
GOVERNOR. When do you say we are to expect you back?
KHLESTAKOV. Tomorrow, or the day after.
OSIP. Is this the rug? Give it here. Put it there. Now put some hay on
this side.
POSTILION. Ho!
OSIP. Here, on this side. More. All right. That will be fine.
(Beats the
rug
GOVERNOR. What are you talking about? Mother has lost her wits. Please
do not be angry, your Excellency. She has a touch of insanity. Her
mother was like that, too.
KHLESTAKOV. Yes, I am really asking for your daughter's hand. I am in
love with her.
GOVERNOR. I cannot believe it, your Excellency.
ANNA. But when you are told!
KHLESTAKOV. I am not joking. I could go crazy, I am so in love.
GOVERNOR. I daren't believe it. I am unworthy of such an honor.
KHLESTAKOV. If you don't consent to give me your daughter Marya
Antonovna's hand, then I am ready to do the devil knows what.
GOVERNOR. I cannot believe it. You deign to joke, your Excellency.
ANNA. My, what a blockhead! Really! When you are told over and over
again!
GOVERNOR. I can't believe it.
KHLESTAKOV. Give her to me, give her to me! I am a desperate man and
I may do anything. If I shoot myself, you will have a law-suit on your
hands.
GOVERNOR. Oh, my God! I am not guilty either in thought or in action.
Please do not be angry. Be pleased to act as your mercy wills. Really,
my head is in such a state I don't know what is happening. I have turned
into a worse fool than I've ever been in my life.
ANNA. Well, give your blessing.
Khlestakov goes up to Marya Antonovna.
GOVERNOR. May God bless you, but I am not guilty.
(Khlestakov kisses
Marya. The Governor looks at them.)
What the devil! It's really so.
(Rubs his eyes.)
They are kissing. Oh, heavens! They are kissing.
Actually to be our son-in-law!
(Cries out, jumping with glee.)
Ho,
Anton! Ho, Anton! Ho, Governor! So that's the turn events have taken!
Scene XVI
The same and Osip.
OSIP. The horses are ready.
KHLESTAKOV. Oh! All right. I'll come presently.
GOVERNOR. What's that? Are you leaving?
KHLESTAKOV. Yes, I'm going.
GOVERNOR. Then when—that is—I thought you were pleased to hint at a
wedding.
KHLESTAKOV. Oh—for one minute only—for one day—to my uncle, a rich
old man. I'll be back tomorrow.
GOVERNOR. We would not venture, of course, to hold you back, and we hope
for your safe return.
KHLESTAKOV. Of course, of course, I'll come back at once. Good-by, my
dear—no, I simply can't express my feelings. Good-by, my heart.
(Kisses
Marya's hand.)
GOVERNOR. Don't you need something for the road? It seems to me you were
pleased to be short of cash.
KHLESTAKOV, Oh, no, what for?
(After a little thought.)
However, if you
like.
GOVERNOR. How much will you have?
KHLESTAKOV. You gave me two hundred then, that is, not two hundred, but
four hundred—I don't want to take advantage of your mistake—you might
let me have the same now so that it should be an even eight hundred.
GOVERNOR. Very well.
(Takes the money out of his pocket-book.)
The notes
happen to be brand-new, too, as though on purpose.
KHLESTAKOV. Oh, yes.
(Takes the bills and looks at them.)
That's good.
They say new money means good luck.
GOVERNOR. Quite right.
KHLESTAKOV. Good-by, Anton Antonovich. I am very much obliged to you for
your hospitality. I admit with all my heart that I have never got such
a good reception anywhere. Good-by, Anna Andreyevna. Good-by, my
sweet-heart, Marya Antonovna.
All go out.
Behind the Scenes.
KHLESTAKOV. Good-by, angel of my soul, Marya Antonovna.
GOVERNOR. What's that? You are going in a plain mail-coach?
KHLESTAKOV. Yes, I'm used to it. I get a headache from a carriage with
springs.
POSTILION. Ho!
GOVERNOR. Take a rug for the seat at least. If you say so, I'll tell
them to bring a rug.
KHLESTAKOV. No, what for? It's not necessary. However, let them bring a
rug if you please.
GOVERNOR. Ho, Avdotya. Go to the store-room and bring the very best rug
from there, the Persian rug with the blue ground. Quick!
POSTILION. Ho!
GOVERNOR. When do you say we are to expect you back?
KHLESTAKOV. Tomorrow, or the day after.
OSIP. Is this the rug? Give it here. Put it there. Now put some hay on
this side.
POSTILION. Ho!
OSIP. Here, on this side. More. All right. That will be fine.
(Beats the
rug
Similar Books
