arms and the man-第7章

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ever　again？　How　long　would　your　father　be　left　on　his　little
farm？　（She　impatiently　throws　away　the　end　of　her　cigaret；　and
stamps　on　it。）　Child；　you　don't　know　the　power　such　high　people
have　over　the　like　of　you　and　me　when　we　try　to　rise　out　of　our
poverty　against　them。　（He　goes　close　to　her　and　lowers　his
voice。）　Look　at　me；　ten　years　in　their　service。　Do　you　think　I
know　no　secrets？　I　know　things　about　the　mistress　that　she
wouldn't　have　the　master　know　for　a　thousand　levas。　I　know
things　about　him　that　she　wouldn't　let　him　hear　the　last　of　for
six　months　if　I　blabbed　them　to　her。　I　know　things　about　Raina
that　would　break　off　her　match　with　Sergius　if

LOUKA　（turning　on　him　quickly）。　How　do　you　know？　I　never　told
you！

NICOLA　（opening　his　eyes　cunningly）。　So　that's　your　little
secret；　is　it？　I　thought　it　might　be　something　like　that。　Well；
you　take　my　advice；　and　be　respectful；　and　make　the　mistress
feel　that　no　matter　what　you　know　or　don't　know；　they　can　depend
on　you　to　hold　your　tongue　and　serve　the　family　faithfully。
That's　what　they　like；　and　that's　how　you'll　make　most　out　of
them。

LOUKA　（with　searching　scorn）。　You　have　the　soul　of　a　servant；
Nicola。

NICOLA　（complacently）。　Yes：　that's　the　secret　of　success　in
service。

　　　　（A　loud　knocking　with　a　whip　handle　on　a　wooden　
　　　　　door；　outside　on　the　left；　is　heard。）

MALE　VOICE　OUTSIDE。　Hollo！　Hollo　there！　Nicola！

LOUKA。　Master！　back　from　the　war！

NICOLA　（quickly）。　My　word　for　it；　Louka；　the　war's　over。　Off
with　you　and　get　some　fresh　coffee。　（He　runs　out　into　the　stable
yard。）

LOUKA　（as　she　puts　the　coffee　pot　and　the　cups　upon　the　tray；
and　carries　it　into　the　house）。　You'll　never　put　the　soul　of　a
servant　into　me。

　　　（Major　Petkoff　comes　from　the　stable　yard；
　　　　followed　by　Nicola。　He　is　a　cheerful；　excitable；
　　　　insignificant；　unpolished　man　of　about　50；
　　　　naturally　unambitious　except　as　to　his　income　and
　　　　his　importance　in　local　society；　but　just　now
　　　　greatly　pleased　with　the　military　rank　which　the
　　　　war　has　thrust　on　him　as　a　man　of　consequence　in
　　　　his　town。　The　fever　of　plucky　patriotism　which　the
　　　　Servian　attack　roused　in　all　the　Bulgarians　has
　　　　pulled　him　through　the　war；　but　he　is　obviously
　　　　glad　to　be　home　again。）

PETKOFF　（pointing　to　the　table　with　his　whip）。　Breakfast　out
here；　eh？

NICOLA。　Yes；　sir。　The　mistress　and　Miss　Raina　have　just　gone　in。

PETKOFF　（fitting　down　and　taking　a　roll）。　Go　in　and　say　I've
come；　and　get　me　some　fresh　coffee。

NICOLA。　It's　coming；　sir。　（He　goes　to　the　house　door。　Louka；
with　fresh　coffee；　a　clean　cup；　and　a　brandy　bottle　on　her　tray
meets　him。）　Have　you　told　the　mistress？

LOUKA。　Yes：　she's　coming。

　　　　（Nicola　goes　into　the　house。　Louka　brings　the
　　　　　coffee　to　the　table。）

PETKOFF。　Well；　the　Servians　haven't　run　away　with　you；　have
they？

LOUKA。　No；　sir。

PETKOFF。　That's　right。　Have　you　brought　me　some　cognac？

LOUKA　（putting　the　bottle　on　the　table）。　Here；　sir。

PETKOFF。　That's　right。　（He　pours　some　into　his　coffee。）

　　　（Catherine　who　has　at　this　early　hour　made　only　a
　　　　very　perfunctory　toilet；　and　wears　a　Bulgarian
　　　　apron　over　a　once　brilliant；　but　now　half　worn　out
　　　　red　dressing　gown；　and　a　colored　handkerchief　tied
　　　　over　her　thick　black　hair；　with　Turkish　slippers
　　　　on　her　bare　feet；　comes　from　the　house；　looking
　　　　astonishingly　handsome　and　stately　under　all　the
　　　　circumstances。　Louka　goes　into　the　house。）

CATHERINE。　My　dear　Paul；　what　a　surprise　for　us。　（She　stoops
over　the　back　of　his　chair　to　kiss　him。）　Have　they　brought　you
fresh　coffee？

PETKOFF。　Yes；　Louka's　been　looking　after　me。　The　war's　over。　The
treaty　was　signed　three　days　ago　at　Bucharest；　and　the　decree
for　our　army　to　demobilize　was　issued　yesterday。　

CATHERINE　（springing　erect；　with　flashing　eyes）。　The　war　over！　
Paul：　have　you　let　the　Austrians　force　you　to　make　peace？

PETKOFF　（submissively）。　My　dear：　they　didn't　consult　me。　What
could　_I_　do？　（She　sits　down　and　turns　away　from　him。）　But　of
course　we　saw　to　it　that　the　treaty　was　an　honorable　one。　It
declares　peace

CATHERINE　（outraged）。　Peace！

PETKOFF　（appeasing　her）。but　not　friendly　relations：　remember
that。　They　wanted　to　put　that　in；　but　I　insisted　on　its　being
struck　out。　What　more　could　I　do？

CATHERINE。　You　could　have　annexed　Servia　and　made　Prince
Alexander　Emperor　of　the　Balkans。　That's　what　I　would　have　done。

PETKOFF。　I　don't　doubt　it　in　the　least；　my　dear。　But　I　should
have　had　to　subdue　the　whole　Austrian　Empire　first；　and　that
would　have　kept　me　too　long　away　from　you。　I　missed　you　greatly。

CATHERINE　（relenting）。　Ah！　（Stretches　her　hand　affectionately
across　the　table　to　squeeze　his。）

PETKOFF。　And　how　have　you　been；　my　dear？

CATHERINE。　Oh；　my　usual　sore　throats；　that's　all。

PETKOFF　（with　conviction）。　That　comes　from　washing　your　neck
every　day。　I've　often　told　you　so。

CATHERINE。　Nonsense；　Paul！

PETKOFF　（over　his　coffee　and　cigaret）。　I　don't　believe　in　going
too　far　with　these　modern　customs。　All　this　washing　can't　be
good　for　the　health：　it's　not　natural。　There　was　an　Englishman
at　Phillipopolis　who　used　to　wet　himself　all　over　with　cold
water　every　morning　when　he　got　up。　Disgusting！　It　all　comes
from　the　English：　their　climate　makes　them　so　dirty　that　they
have　to　be　perpetually　washing　themselves。　Look　at　my　father：　he
never　had　a　bath　in　his　life；　and　he　lived　to　be　ninety…eight；
the　healthiest　man　in　Bulgaria。　I　don't　mind　a　good　wash　once　a
week　to　keep　up　my　position；　but　once　a　day　is　carrying　the
thing　to　a　ridiculous　extreme。

CATHERINE。　You　are　a　barbarian　at　heart　still；　Paul。　I　hope　you
behaved　yourself　before　all　those　Russian　officers。

PETKOFF。　I　did　my　best。　I　took　care　to　let　them　know　that　we　had
a　library。

CATHERINE。　Ah；　but　you　didn't　tell　them　that　we　have　an　electric
bell　in　it？　I　have　had　one　put　up。

PETKOFF。　What's　an　electric　bell？

CATHERINE。　You　touch　a　button；　something　tinkles　in　the　kitchen；
and　then　Nicola　comes　up。

PETKOFF。　Why　not　shout　for　him？

CATHERINE。　Civilized　people　never　shout　for　their　servants。　I've
learnt　that　while　you　were　away。

PETKOFF。　Well；　I'll　tell　you　something　I've　learnt；　too。
Civilized　people　don't　hang　out　their　washing　to　dry　where
visitors　can　see　it；　so　you'd　better　have　all　that　（indicating
the　clothes　on　the　bushes）　put　somewhere　else。

CATHERINE。　Oh；　that's　absurd；　Paul：　I　don't　believe　really
refined　people　notice　such　things。

　　　　（Someone　is　heard　knocking　at　the　stable　gates。）

PETKOFF。　There's　Sergius。　（Shouting。）　Hollo；　Nicola！

CATHERINE。　Oh；　don't　shout；　Paul：　it　really　isn't　nice。

PETKOFF。　Bosh！　（He　shouts　louder　than　before。）　Nicola！

NICOLA　（appearing　at　the　house　door）。　Yes；　sir。

PETKOFF。　If　that　is　Major　Saranoff；　bring　him　round　this　way。
（He　pronounces　the　name　with　the　stress　on　the　second
syllableSarah…noff。）

NICOLA。　Yes；　sir。　（He　goes　into　the　stable　yard。）

PETKOFF。　You　must　talk　to　him；　my　dear；　until　Raina　takes　him
off　our　hands。　He　bores　my　life　out　about　our　not　promoting
himover　my　head；　mind　you。

CATHERINE。　He　certainly　ought　to　be　promoted　when　he　marries
Raina。　Besides；　the　country　should　insist　on　having　at　least　one
native　general。

PETKOFF。　Yes；　so　that　he　could　throw　away　whole　brigades　instead
of　regiments。　It's　no　use；　my　dear：　he　has　not　the　slightest
chance　of　promotion　until　we　are　quite　sure　that　the　peace　will
be　a　lasting　one。

NICOLA　（at　the　gate；　announcing）。　Major　Sergius　Saranoff！　（He
goes　into　the　house　and　returns　presently　with　a　third　chair；
which　be　places　at　the　table。　He　then　withdraws。）

　　　（Major　Sergius　Saranoff；　the　original　of　the
　　　　portrait　in　Raina's　room；　is　a　tall；　romantically
　　　　handsome　man；　with　the　physical　hardihood；　the
　　　　high　spirit；　and　the　susceptible　imagination　of　an
　　　　untamed　mountaineer　chieftain。　But　his　remarkable
　　　　personal　distinction　is　of　a　characteristically
　　　　civilized　type。　The　ridges　of　his　eyebrows；
　　　　curving　with　a　ram's…horn　twist　round　the　marked
　　　　projections　at　the　outer　corners；　his　jealously
　　　　observant　eye；　his　nose；　thin；　keen；　and
　　　　app