arms and the man-第3章
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I must see that everything is made safe downstairs。
RAINA （to Louka）。 Leave the shutters so that I can just close
them if I hear any noise。
CATHERINE （authoritatively； turning on her way to the door）。
Oh； no； dear； you must keep them fastened。 You would be sure to
drop off to sleep and leave them open。 Make them fast； Louka。
LOUKA。 Yes； madam。 （She fastens them。）
RAINA。 Don't be anxious about me。 The moment I hear a shot； I
shall blow out the candles and roll myself up in bed with my
ears well covered。
CATHERINE。 Quite the wisest thing you can do； my love。
Good…night。
RAINA。 Good…night。 （They kiss one another； and Raina's emotion
comes back for a moment。） Wish me joy of the happiest night of
my lifeif only there are no fugitives。
CATHERINE。 Go to bed； dear； and don't think of them。 （She goes
out。）
LOUKA （secretly； to Raina）。 If you would like the shutters
open； just give them a push like this。 （She pushes them： they
open： she pulls them to again。） One of them ought to be bolted
at the bottom； but the bolt's gone。
RAINA （with dignity； reproving her）。 Thanks； Louka； but we must
do what we are told。 （Louka makes a grimace。） Good…night。
LOUKA （carelessly）。 Good…night。 （She goes out； swaggering。）
（Raina； left alone； goes to the chest of drawers；
and adores the portrait there with feelings that
are beyond all expression。 She does not kiss it or
press it to her breast； or shew it any mark of
bodily affection； but she takes it in her hands
and elevates it like a priestess。）
RAINA （looking up at the picture with worship。） Oh； I shall
never be unworthy of you any more； my heronever； never； never。
（She replaces it reverently； and selects a novel
from the little pile of books。 She turns over the
leaves dreamily； finds her page； turns the book
inside out at it； and then； with a happy sigh；
gets into bed and prepares to read herself to
sleep。 But before abandoning herself to fiction；
she raises her eyes once more； thinking of the
blessed reality and murmurs）
My hero！ my hero！
（A distant shot breaks the quiet of the night
outside。 She starts； listening； and two more
shots； much nearer； follow； startling her so that
she scrambles out of bed； and hastily blows out
the candle on the chest of drawers。 Then； putting
her fingers in her ears； she runs to the
dressing…table and blows out the light there； and
hurries back to bed。 The room is now in darkness：
nothing is visible but the glimmer of the light in
the pierced ball before the image； and the
starlight seen through the slits at the top of the
shutters。 The firing breaks out again： there is a
startling fusillade quite close at hand。 Whilst it
is still echoing； the shutters disappear； pulled
open from without； and for an instant the
rectangle of snowy starlight flashes out with the
figure of a man in black upon it。 The shutters
close immediately and the room is dark again。 But
the silence is now broken by the sound of panting。
Then there is a scrape； and the flame of a match
is seen in the middle of the room。）
RAINA （crouching on the bed）。 Who's there？ （The match is out
instantly。） Who's there？ Who is that？
A MAN'S VOICE （in the darkness； subduedly； but threateningly）。
Shsh！ Don't call out or you'll be shot。 Be good； and no harm
will happen to you。 （She is heard leaving her bed； and making
for the door。） Take care； there's no use in trying to run away。
Remember； if you raise your voice my pistol will go off。
（Commandingly。） Strike a light and let me see you。 Do you hear？
（Another moment of silence and darkness。 Then she is heard
retreating to the dressing…table。 She lights a candle； and the
mystery is at an end。 A man of about 35； in a deplorable plight；
bespattered with mud and blood and snow； his belt and the strap
of his revolver case keeping together the torn ruins of the blue
coat of a Servian artillery officer。 As far as the candlelight
and his unwashed； unkempt condition make it possible to judge；
he is a man of middling stature and undistinguished appearance；
with strong neck and shoulders； a roundish； obstinate looking
head covered with short crisp bronze curls； clear quick blue
eyes and good brows and mouth； a hopelessly prosaic nose like
that of a strong…minded baby； trim soldierlike carriage and
energetic manner； and with all his wits about him in spite of
his desperate predicamenteven with a sense of humor of it；
without； however； the least intention of trifling with it or
throwing away a chance。 He reckons up what he can guess about
Rainaher age； her social position； her character； the extent
to which she is frightenedat a glance； and continues； more
politely but still most determinedly） Excuse my disturbing you；
but you recognise my uniformServian。 If I'm caught I shall be
killed。 （Determinedly。） Do you understand that？
RAINA。 Yes。
MAN。 Well； I don't intend to get killed if I can help it。 （Still
more determinedly。） Do you understand that？ （He locks the door
with a snap。）
RAINA （disdainfully）。 I suppose not。 （She draws herself up
superbly； and looks him straight in the face； saying with
emphasis） Some soldiers； I know； are afraid of death。
MAN （with grim goodhumor）。 All of them； dear lady； all of them；
believe me。 It is our duty to live as long as we can； and kill
as many of the enemy as we can。 Now if you raise an alarm
RAINA （cutting him short）。 You will shoot me。 How do you know
that I am afraid to die？
MAN （cunningly）。 Ah； but suppose I don't shoot you； what will
happen then？ Why； a lot of your cavalrythe greatest
blackguards in your armywill burst into this pretty room of
yours and slaughter me here like a pig； for I'll fight like a
demon： they shan't get me into the street to amuse themselves
with： I know what they are。 Are you prepared to receive that
sort of company in your present undress？ （Raina； suddenly
conscious of her nightgown； instinctively shrinks and gathers it
more closely about her。 He watches her； and adds； pitilessly）
It's rather scanty； eh？ （She turns to the ottoman。 He raises his
pistol instantly； and cries） Stop！ （She stops。） Where are you
going？
RAINA （with dignified patience）。 Only to get my cloak。
MAN （darting to the ottoman and snatching the cloak）。 A good
idea。 No： I'll keep the cloak： and you will take care that
nobody comes in and sees you without it。 This is a better weapon
than the pistol。 （He throws the pistol down on the ottoman。）
RAINA （revolted）。 It is not the weapon of a gentleman！
MAN。 It's good enough for a man with only you to stand between
him and death。 （As they look at one another for a moment； Raina
hardly able to believe that even a Servian officer can be so
cynically and selfishly unchivalrous； they are startled by a
sharp fusillade in the street。 The chill of imminent death
hushes the man's voice as he adds） Do you hear？ If you are going
to bring those scoundrels in on me you shall receive them as you
are。 （Raina meets his eye with unflinching scorn。 Suddenly he
starts； listening。 There is a step outside。 Someone tries the
door； and then knocks hurriedly and urgently at it。 Raina looks
at the man； breathless。 He throws up his head with the gesture
of a man who sees that it is all over with him； and； dropping
the manner which he has been assuming to intimidate her； flings
the cloak to her； exclaiming； sincerely and kindly） No use： I'm
done for。 Quick！ wrap yourself up： they're coming！
RAINA （catching the cloak eagerly）。 Oh； thank you。 （She wraps
herself up with great relief。 He draws his sabre and turns to
the door； waiting。）
LOUKA （outside； knocking）。 My lady； my lady！ Get up； quick； and
open the door。
RAINA （anxiously）。 What will you do？
MAN （grimly）。 Never mind。 Keep out of the way。 It will not last
long。
RAINA （impulsively）。 I'll help you。 Hide yourself； oh； hide
yourself； quick； behind the curtain。 （She seizes him by a torn
strip of his sleeve； and pulls him towards the window。）
MAN （yielding to her）。 There is just half a chance； if you keep
your head。 Remember： nine soldiers out of ten ar
