arms and the man-第5章
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in a lump。
RAINA （her eyes dilating as she raises her clasped hands
ecstatically）。 Yes； first One！the bravest of the brave！
MAN （prosaically）。 Hm！ you should see the poor devil pulling at
his horse。
RAINA。 Why should he pull at his horse？
MAN （impatient of so stupid a question）。 It's running away with
him； of course： do you suppose the fellow wants to get there
before the others and be killed？ Then they all come。 You can
tell the young ones by their wildness and their slashing。 The
old ones come bunched up under the number one guard： they know
that they are mere projectiles； and that it's no use trying to
fight。 The wounds are mostly broken knees； from the horses
cannoning together。
RAINA。 Ugh！ But I don't believe the first man is a coward。 I
believe he is a hero！
MAN （goodhumoredly）。 That's what you'd have said if you'd seen
the first man in the charge to…day。
RAINA （breathless）。 Ah； I knew it！ Tell metell me about him。
MAN。 He did it like an operatic tenora regular handsome
fellow； with flashing eyes and lovely moustache； shouting a
war…cry and charging like Don Quixote at the windmills。 We
nearly burst with laughter at him； but when the sergeant ran up
as white as a sheet； and told us they'd sent us the wrong
cartridges； and that we couldn't fire a shot for the next ten
minutes； we laughed at the other side of our mouths。 I never
felt so sick in my life； though I've been in one or two very
tight places。 And I hadn't even a revolver cartridgenothing
but chocolate。 We'd no bayonetsnothing。 Of course； they just
cut us to bits。 And there was Don Quixote flourishing like a
drum major； thinking he'd done the cleverest thing ever known；
whereas he ought to be courtmartialled for it。 Of all the fools
ever let loose on a field of battle； that man must be the very
maddest。 He and his regiment simply committed suicideonly the
pistol missed fire； that's all。
RAINA （deeply wounded； but steadfastly loyal to her ideals）。
Indeed！ Would you know him again if you saw him？
MAN。 Shall I ever forget him。 （She again goes to the chest of
drawers。 He watches her with a vague hope that she may have
something else for him to eat。 She takes the portrait from its
stand and brings it to him。）
RAINA。 That is a photograph of the gentlemanthe patriot and
heroto whom I am betrothed。
MAN （looking at it）。 I'm really very sorry。 （Looking at her。）
Was it fair to lead me on？ （He looks at the portrait again。）
Yes： that's him： not a doubt of it。 （He stifles a laugh。）
RAINA （quickly）。 Why do you laugh？
MAN （shamefacedly； but still greatly tickled）。 I didn't laugh；
I assure you。 At least I didn't mean to。 But when I think of him
charging the windmills and thinking he was doing the finest
thing（chokes with suppressed laughter）。
RAINA （sternly）。 Give me back the portrait； sir。
MAN （with sincere remorse）。 Of course。 Certainly。 I'm really
very sorry。 （She deliberately kisses it； and looks him straight
in the face； before returning to the chest of drawers to replace
it。 He follows her； apologizing。） Perhaps I'm quite wrong； you
know： no doubt I am。 Most likely he had got wind of the
cartridge business somehow； and knew it was a safe job。
RAINA。 That is to say； he was a pretender and a coward！ You did
not dare say that before。
MAN （with a comic gesture of despair）。 It's no use； dear lady：
I can't make you see it from the professional point of view。 （As
he turns away to get back to the ottoman； the firing begins
again in the distance。）
RAINA （sternly； as she sees him listening to the shots）。 So
much the better for you。
MAN （turning）。 How？
RAINA。 You are my enemy； and you are at my mercy。 What would I
do if I were a professional soldier？
MAN。 Ah； true； dear young lady： you're always right。 I know how
good you have been to me： to my last hour I shall remember those
three chocolate creams。 It was unsoldierly； but it was angelic。
RAINA （coldly）。 Thank you。 And now I will do a soldierly thing。
You cannot stay here after what you have just said about my
future husband； but I will go out on the balcony and see whether
it is safe for you to climb down into the street。 （She turns to
the window。）
MAN （changing countenance）。 Down that waterpipe！ Stop！ Wait！ I
can't！ I daren't！ The very thought of it makes me giddy。 I came
up it fast enough with death behind me。 But to face it now in
cold blood！（He sinks on the ottoman。） It's no use： I give up：
I'm beaten。 Give the alarm。 （He drops his head in his hands in
the deepest dejection。）
RAINA （disarmed by pity）。 Come； don't be disheartened。 （She
stoops over him almost maternally： he shakes his head。） Oh； you
are a very poor soldiera chocolate cream soldier。 Come； cheer
up： it takes less courage to climb down than to face
captureremember that。
MAN （dreamily； lulled by her voice）。 No； capture only means
death； and death is sleepoh； sleep； sleep； sleep； undisturbed
sleep！ Climbing down the pipe means doing somethingexerting
myselfthinking！ Death ten times over first。
RAINA （softly and wonderingly； catching the rhythm of his
weariness）。 Are you so sleepy as that？
MAN。 I've not had two hours' undisturbed sleep since the war
began。 I'm on the staff： you don't know what that means。 I
haven't closed my eyes for thirty…six hours。
RAINA （desperately）。 But what am I to do with you。
MAN （staggering up）。 Of course I must do something。 （He shakes
himself； pulls himself together； and speaks with rallied vigour
and courage。） You see； sleep or no sleep； hunger or no hunger；
tired or not tired； you can always do a thing when you know it
must be done。 Well； that pipe must be got down（He hits himself
on the chest； and adds）Do you hear that； you chocolate cream
soldier？ （He turns to the window。）
RAINA （anxiously）。 But if you fall？
MAN。 I shall sleep as if the stones were a feather bed。
Good…bye。 （He makes boldly for the window； and his hand is on
the shutter when there is a terrible burst of firing in the
street beneath。）
RAINA （rushing to him）。 Stop！ （She catches him by the shoulder；
and turns him quite round。） They'll kill you。
MAN （coolly； but attentively）。 Never mind： this sort of thing
is all in my day's work。 I'm bound to take my chance。
（Decisively。） Now do what I tell you。 Put out the candles； so
that they shan't see the light when I open the shutters。 And
keep away from the window； whatever you do。 If they see me；
they're sure to have a shot at me。
RAINA （clinging to him）。 They're sure to see you： it's bright
moonlight。 I'll save youoh； how can you be so indifferent？ You
want me to save you； don't you？
MAN。 I really don't want to be troublesome。 （She shakes him in
her impatience。） I am not indifferent； dear young lady； I assure
you。 But how is it to be done？
RAINA。 Come away from the windowplease。 （She coaxes him back
to the middle of the room。 He submits humbly。 She releases him；
and addresses him patronizingly。） Now listen。 You must trust to
our hospitality。 You do not yet know in whose house you are。 I
am a Petkoff。
MAN。 What's that？
RAINA （rather indignantly）。 I mean that I belong to the family
of the Petkoffs； the richest and best known in our country。
MAN。 Oh； yes； of course。 I beg your pardon。 The Petkoffs； to be
sure。 How stupid of me！
RAINA。 You know you never heard of them until this minute。 How
can you stoop to pretend？
MAN。 Forgive me： I'm too tired to think； and the change of
subject was too much for me。 Don't scold me。
RAINA。 I forgot。 It might make you cry。 （He nods； quite
seriously。 She pouts and then resumes her patronizing tone。） I
must tell you that my father holds the highest command of any
Bulgarian in our army。 He is （proudly） a Major。
MAN （pretending to be deeply impressed）。 A Major！ Bless me！
Think of that！
RAINA。 You shewed great ignorance in thinking that it was
necessary to climb up to the balcony； because ours is the only
private house that has two rows of windows。 There is a flight of
stairs inside to get up and down by。
MAN。 Stairs！ How grand！ You live in great luxury indeed； dear
young lady。
RAINA。 Do you know what a library is？
MAN。 A library？ A roomful of books。
RAINA。 Yes； we have
