No More Learning

And, according to information, it has
been shown that he, the accursed Grishka, has fled to the
Lithuanian frontier. "

OFFICER. (To MISSAIL. ) How can it be anyone but you?

GREGORY. "And the tsar has commanded to arrest him--"

OFFICER. And to hang!

GREGORY. It does not say here "to hang. "

OFFICER. Thou liest. What is meant is not always put into
writing. Read: to arrest and to hang.

GREGORY. "And to hang.
And the age of the thief
Grishka" (looking at VARLAAM) "about fifty, and his
height medium; he has a bald head, grey beard, fat
belly. "

(All glance at VARLAAM. )

1ST OFFICER, My lads! Here is Grishka! Hold him!
Bind him! I never thought to catch him so quickly.

VARLAAM. (Snatching the paper. ) Hands off, my lads!
What sort of a Grishka am I? What! Fifty years old,
grey beard, fat belly! No, brother. You're too young
to play off tricks on me. I have not read for a long time
and I make it out badly, but I shall manage to make it
out, as it's a hanging matter.