Nikolai Gogol - The Inspector-General (Act 2 Scene 4) lyrics

Khlestakov, Osip, and a Servant. SERVANT The landlord sent me up to ask what you want. KHLESTAKOV Ah, how do you do, brother! How are you? How are you? SERVANT All right, thank you. KHLESTAKOV And how are you getting on in the inn? Is business good? SERVANT Yes, business is all right, thank you. KHLESTAKOV Many guests? SERVANT Plenty. KHLESTAKOV See here, good friend. They haven't sent me dinner yet. Please hurry them up! See that I get it as soon as possible. I have some business to attend to immediately after dinner. SERVANT The landlord said he won't let you have anything any more. He was all for going to the Governor to-day and making a complaint against you. KHLESTAKOV What's there to complain about? Judge for yourself, friend. Why, I've got to eat. If I go on like this I'll turn into a skeleton. I'm hungry, I'm not joking. SERVANT Yes, sir, that's what he said. "I won't let him have no dinner," he said, "till he pays for what he has already had." That was his answer. KHLESTAKOV Try to persuade him. SERVANT But what shall I tell him? KHLESTAKOV Explain that it's a serious matter, I've got to eat. As for the money, of course—He thinks that because a muzhik like him can go without food a whole day others can too. The idea! SERVANT Well, all right. I'll tell him. The Servant and Osip go out.