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. (Spells it out.) "And his
age twenty." Why, brother, where does it say fifty?--
Do you see--twenty?

2ND OFFICER. Yes, I remember, twenty; even so it was
told us.

1ST OFFICER. (To GREGORY.) Then, evidently, you like a
joke, brother.

(During the reading GREGORY stands with downcast
head, and his hand in his breast.)

VARLAAM. (Continues.) "And in stature he is small, chest
broad, one arm shorter than the other, blue eyes, red
hair, a wart on his cheek, another on his forehead."
Then is it not you, my friend?

(GREGORY suddenly draws a dagger; all give way
before him; he dashes through the window.)

OFFICERS. Hold him! Hold him!