Act 4, Scenes 1 and 2 Summary

Scene 1 - Act 4 continues the setting in the Mayor's house. The Judge, the Warden of Charities, the Inspector of Schools, the Chief of Police, the Postmaster, Bobchinsky, and Dobchinsky come in, all arguing about how best to present themselves to "the inspector." They discuss whether they should slip him a bribe, but the Judge says it's too dangerous - he might take it the wrong way. The Judge proposes that they disguise the bribe as a donation. Meanwhile, the Warden suggests that they should not approach "the inspector" as a group, but rather one at a time, speaking privately with him so no one else can hear what is said, and get the wrong idea. They argue over who should go first, but before they can decide, they hear Khlestakov coming, and shove at each other in their haste...