The Guests: Read! read!
The Postmaster (continues to read): “The Governor is as stupid as an old horse”....
Governor: The deuce! Now he must repeat it—as if it were not standing there already!
Postmaster (continues reading): Hm, Hm, yes! “an old horse. The postmaster is also a good man.”... Well, he also makes an improper remark about me....
Governor: Read it then.
Postmaster: Is it necessary?
Governor: The deuce! once we have begun to read it, we must read it all through.
Artémy Filípovitch (head of the philanthropic institutions): Permit me, please, I shall read (puts on his spectacles and reads): “The postmaster is quite like the old porter in our office, and the rascal must drink equally hard.”...
Postmaster: A naughty boy, who ought to be flogged—that’s all!
Art. Fil. (continues reading): “The head of the philanthropic in—in....”