Mrs. Uncouth. Brother, I recommend to you our dear guest, Mr. Truthful; and to you, sir, I recommend my brother.
Truthful. Am glad to make your acquaintance.
Beastly. Very well, sir. What is your name? I did not quite hear it.
Truthful. My name is Truthful, so that you may hear it.
Beastly. Where born, sir? Where are your villages?
Truthful. I was born in Moscow, if you must know that, and my villages are in this province.
Beastly. And may I ask you,—I do not know your name and patronymic,—are there any pigs in your villages?
Mrs. Uncouth. Now, stop, brother, asking about your pigs. We had better talk about our trouble. (To Truthful.) Listen, sir! By God’s command we have taken this maiden upon our hands. She deigns to receive letters from her uncles: you see, her uncles write to her from heaven. Do us the kindness, sir, and read us this letter aloud.
Truthful. Excuse me, madam, I never read letters without the permission of those to whom they have been addressed.
Sophia. On the contrary, I beg you to do me the favour.