GOVERNOR [trembling]. It was my inexperience. I
swear to you, it was nothing but my inexperience and insufficient
means. Judge for yourself. The salary I get
is not enough for tea and sugar. And if I have taken
bribes, they were mere trifles--something for the table,
or a coat or two. As for the officer's widow to whom
they say I gave a beating, she's in business now, and it's
a slander, it's a slander that I beat her. Those scoundrels
here invented the lie. They are ready to murder
me. That's the kind of people they are.

KHLESTAKOV. Well. I've nothing to do with them.
[Reflecting.] I don't see, though, why you should talk
to me about your scoundrels or officer's widow. An officer's
widow is quite a different matter.-- But don't
you dare to beat me. You can't do it to me--no, sir,
you can't. The idea! Look at him! I'll pay, I'll pay
the money. Just now I'm out of cash. That's why I
stay here--because I haven't a single kopek.

GOVERNOR [aside]. Oh, he's a shrewd one. So that's
what he's aiming at? He's raised such a cloud of dust
you can't tell what direction he's going. Who can guess
what he wants? One doesn't know where to begin. But
I will try. Come what may, I'll try--hit or miss.
[Aloud.] H'm, if you really are in want of money, I'm
ready to serve you. It is my duty to assist strangers in
town.