ire.

KHLESTAKOV. Oh, yes, I've met you before. I believe you fell? How's your
nose?

BOBCHINSKY. It's all right. Please don't trouble. It's dried up, dried
up completely.

KHLESTAKOV. That's nice. I'm glad it's dried up. [Suddenly and
abruptly.] Have you any money?

DOBCHINSKY. Money? How's that--money?

KHLESTAKOV. A thousand rubles to lend me.

BOBCHINSKY. Not so much as that, honest to God I haven't. Have you,
Piotr Ivanovich?

DOBCHINSKY. I haven't got it with me, because my money--I beg to inform
you--is deposited in the State Savings Bank.

KHLESTAKOV. Well, if you haven't a thousand, then a hundred.

BOBCHINSKY [fumbling in his pockets]. Have you a hundred rubles, Piotr
Ivanovich? All I have is forty.

DOBCHINSKY [examining his pocket-book]. I have only twenty-five.

BOBCHINSKY. Look harder, Piotr Ivanovich. I know you have a hole in your
pocket, and the money must have dropped down into it somehow.

DOBCHINSKY. No, honestly, there isn't any in the hole either.

KHLESTAKOV. Well, never mind. I merely mentioned the matter. Sixty-five
will do. [Takes the money.]

DOBCHINSKY. May I venture to ask a favor of you concerning a very
delicate matter?

KHLESTAKOV. What is it?

DOBCHINSKY. It's a matter of an extremely delicate nature. My oldest
son--I beg to inform you--was born before I was married.

KHLESTAKOV. Indeed?

DOBCHINSKY. That is, only in a sort of way. He is really my son, just
as if he had been born in wedlock. I made up everything afterwards,
set everything right, as it should be, with the bonds of matrimony,
you know. Now, I venture to inform you, I should like to have him
altogether--that is, I should like him to be altogether my legitimate
son and be called Dobchinsky the same as I.

KHLESTAKOV. That's all right. Let him be called Dobchinsky. That's
possible.

DOBCHINSKY. I shouldn't have troubled you; but it's a pity, he is such
a talented youngster. He gives the greatest promise. He can recite
different poems by heart; and whenever he gets hold of a penknife,
he makes little carriages as skilfully as a conjurer. Here's Piotr
Ivanovich. He knows. Am I not right?

BOBCHINSKY. Yes, the lad is very talented.

KHLESTAKOV. All right, all right. I'll try to do it for you. I'll speak
to--I hope--it'll be done, it'll all be done. Yes, yes. [Turning to
Bobchinsky.] Have you anything you'd like to say to me?

BOBCHINSKY. Why, of course. I have a most humble request to make.

KHLE