Royal54-02-2021The Inspector General

The National Broadcasting Company presents Transcribed to Lawrence Olivier in Theatre Royal. This is Lawrence Olivier. Today we've chosen a comical piece by Nikolai Gogog. It's a famous story and has provided the basis for both plays and films.

I myself shall be playing the part of Ivan Alexander, which yes, Tarkov, in Nikolai Gogogog, the Inspector General. My name is Ivan Alexander Bixby's staff coach, and by profession I must clap in the civil service that's completed the day.

I was on my way back to my father's estate in Saratov province when I chanced to fall in with an infantry officer at Penzer. It was at the inn there where we were both stopping overnight that he suggested the game of cars.

I'm rather part of the way hand but P.K. and sold down with that. It was dawned before the game of finish, and by that time I had lost every rule I could And that was why I found myself in such a predicament for the next inn on the road.

As I had no money left with the which to pay for my night lodging, I'd end it by staying on there for a fortnight, along with my servant, Ozith. Hey, Ozith, stop brawling on my bed. See what there's been in tobacco left in my pups.

It can't be. You finished it four days ago. Oh, did I? Yes, I suppose I did. Well, go downstairs and tell them to send up some dinner. I'm starving. Oh, right. But that doesn't mean we should leave. The landlord told them to send up nothing more.

Why, I guess, the be in on me? He says he knows a little rogue in the chief when he sees one. Then you haven't paid him a cop back in over two weeks. He says you go to the mayor and have you already?