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!

(All run out in disorder.) MOSCOW. SHUISKY'S HOUSE SHUISKY. A number of Guests. Supper SHUISKY. More wine! Now, my dear guests.

(He rises; all rise after him.) The final draught!

Read the prayer, boy.

Boy. Lord of the heavens, Who art

Eternally and everywhere, accept

The prayer of us Thy servants. For our monarch,

By Thee appointed, for our pious tsar,

Of all good Christians autocrat, we pray.

Preserve him in the palace, on the field

Of battle, on his nightly couch; grant to him

Victory o'er his foes; from sea to sea

May he be glorified; may all his house

Blossom with health, and may its precious branches