No More Learning

ACT II

SCENE. --_A small room in the inn_. OSIP _lying on his master's bed_.

OSIP: Devil take it! I am famishing. It is two months since we left
St. Petersburg. This master of mine has squandered all his money on the
way, and here we are penniless. The old man sends his son money, but
he goes on the racket with it till all is spent, and then he has to
pawn his clothes almost to the last rag. And now this landlord declares
he will let us have nothing more to eat unless we pay in advance. Ah,
there's the knock.

[_He gets off the bed_. KHELSTAKOV _enters_.

KHELSTAKOV: Go down and ask for something to eat.

OSIP: No.
The landlord will not let us have it. He says we are
swindlers, and he threatens to have you put in prison.

KHELSTAKOV: Go to the devil! Call the landlord. (OSIP _goes_. ) How
fearfully hungry I am. And I was cheated at cards and cleaned right out
at Penza by that infantry captain. What a miserable little town this
is. They give no credit at the provision shops.

[_Enter_ WAITER.

WAITER: The landlord asks what you want.

KHELSTAKOV: Please bring my dinner at once. I must be busy directly
I have dined.

The waiter replies that the landlord refuses to supply anything more,
and seems likely to complain to the governor. But presently dinner is
brought in. To Khlestakov's great consternation Osip announces that
the governor has come and is asking for him.