The Inspector-General Read Online Free PDF

begun but was
destroyed by fire. I sent in a report about it, you know. Some blamed
fool might forget and let out that the building was never even begun.
And tell Derzhimorda not to be so free with his fists. Guilty
or innocent, he makes them all see stars in the cause of public
order.—Come on, come on, Dobchinsky.
(Goes out and returns.)
And don't
let the soldiers appear on the streets with nothing on. That rotten
garrison wear their coats directly over their undershirts.
    All go out.
Scene VI
    Anna Andreyevna and Marya Antonovna rush in on the stage.
    ANNA. Where are they? Where are they? Oh, my God!
(opening the door.)
Husband! Antosha! Anton!
(hurriedly, to Marya.)
It's all your fault.
Dawdling! Dawdling!—"I want a pin—I want a scarf."
(Runs to the window
and calls.)
Anton, where are you going? Where are you going? What! He
has come? The Inspector? He has a moustache? What kind of a moustache?
    GOVERNOR
(from without)
. Wait, dear. Later.
    ANNA. Wait? I don't want to wait. The idea, wait! I only want one word.
Is he a colonel or what? Eh?
(Disgusted.)
There, he's gone! You'll pay
for it! It's all your fault—you, with your "Mamma, dear, wait a moment,
I'll just pin my scarf. I'll come directly." Yes, directly! Now we have
missed the news. It's all your confounded coquettishness. You heard the
Postmaster was here and so you must prink and prim yourself in front of
the mirror—look on this side and that side and all around. You imagine
he's smitten with you. But I can tell you he makes a face at you the
moment you turn your back.
    MARYA. It can't be helped, mamma. We'll know everything in a couple of
hours anyway.
    ANNA. In a couple of hours! Thank you! A nice answer. Why don't you
say, in a month. We'll know still more in a month.
(She leans out of the
window.)
Here, Avdotya! I say! Have you heard whether anybody has come,
Avdotya?—No, you goose, you didn't—He waved his hands? Well, what of
it? Let him wave his hands. But you should have asked him anyhow.
You couldn't find out, of course, with your head full of nonsense and
lovers. Eh, what? They left in a hurry? Well, you should have run after
the carriage. Off with you, off with you at once, do you hear? Run and
ask everybody where they are. Be sure and find out who the newcomer
is and what he is like, do you hear? Peep through a crack and find
everything out—what sort of eyes he has, whether they are black or
blue, and be back here instantly, this minute, do you hear? Quick,
quick, quick!
    She keeps on calling and they both stand at the window until the curtain
drops.

Act II
*
    A small room in the inn, bed, table, travelling bag, empty bottle,
boots, clothes brush, etc.
Scene I
    OSIP
(lying on his master's bed)
. The devil take it! I'm so hungry.
There's a racket in my belly, as if a whole regiment were blowing
trumpets. We'll never reach home. I'd like to know what we are going to
do. Two months already since we left St. Pete. He's gone through all his
cash, the precious buck, so now he sticks here with his tail between his
legs and takes it easy. We'd have had enough and more than enough to pay
for the fare, but no he must exhibit himself in every town.
(Imitates
him.)
"Osip, get me the best room to be had and order the best dinner
they serve. I can't stand bad food. I must have the best." It would be
all right for a somebody, but for a common copying clerk! Goes and gets
acquainted with the other travellers, plays cards, and plays himself
out of his last penny. Oh, I'm sick of this life. It's better in our
village, really. There isn't so much going on, but then there is less to
bother about. You get yourself a wife and lie on the stove all the time
and eat pie. Of course, if you wanted to tell the truth, there's no
denying it that there's nothing like living in St. Pete. All you want is
money. And then you can live smart and classy—theeadres, dogs to dance
for you, everything, and everybody talks so genteel, pretty near like
in high society. If you go