arms and the man-第4章

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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　one；　the　only　one　in　Bulgaria。

MAN。　Actually　a　real　library！　I　should　like　to　see　that。

RAINA　（affectedly）。　I　tell　you　these　things　to　shew　you　that
you　are　not　in　the　house　of　ignorant　country　folk　who　would　kill
you　the　moment　they　saw　your　Servian　uniform；　but　among
civilized　people。　We　go　to　Bucharest　every　year　for　the　opera
season；　and　I　have　spent　a　whole　month　in　Vienna。

MAN。　I　saw　that；　dear　young　lady。　I　saw　at　once　that　you　knew
the　world。

RAINA。　Have　you　ever　seen　the　opera　of　Ernani？

MAN。　Is　that　the　one　with　the　devil　in　it　in　red　velvet；　and　a
soldier's　chorus？

RAINA　（contemptuously）。　No！

MAN　（stifling　a　heavy　sigh　of　weariness）。　Then　I　don't　know　it。

RAINA。　I　thought　you　might　have　remembered　the　great　scene　where
Ernani；　flying　from　his　foes　just　as　you　are　tonight；　takes
refuge　in　the　castle　of　his　bitterest　enemy；　an　old　Castilian
noble。　The　noble　refuses　to　give　him　up。　His　guest　is　sacred　to
him。

MAN　（quickly　waking　up　a　little）。　Have　your　people　got　that
notion？

RAINA　（with　dignity）。　My　mother　and　I　can　understand　that
notion；　as　you　call　it。　And　if　instead　of　threatening　me　with
your　pistol　as　you　did；　you　had　simply　thrown　yourself　as　a
fugitive　on　our　hospitality；　you　would　have　been　as　safe　as　in
your　father's　house。

MAN。　Quite　sure？

RAINA　（turning　her　back　on　him　in　disgust。）　Oh；　it　is　useless
to　try　and　make　you　understand。

MAN。　Don't　be　angry：　you　see　how　awkward　it　would　be　for　me　if
there　was　any　mistake。　My　father　is　a　very　hospitable　man：　he
keeps　six　hotels；　but　I　couldn't　trust　him　as　far　as　that。　What
about　YOUR　father？

RAINA。　He　is　away　at　Slivnitza　fighting　for　his　country。　I
answer　for　your　safety。　There　is　my　hand　in　pledge　of　it。　Will
that　reassure　you？　（She　offers　him　her　hand。）

MAN　（looking　dubiously　at　his　own　hand）。　Better　not　touch　my
hand；　dear　young　lady。　I　must　have　a　wash　first。

RAINA　（touched）。　That　is　very　nice　of　you。　I　see　that　you　are　a
gentleman。

MAN　（puzzled）。　Eh？

RAINA。　You　must　not　think　I　am　surprised。　Bulgarians　of　really
good　standingpeople　in　OUR　positionwash　their　hands　nearly
every　day。　But　I　appreciate　your　delicacy。　You　may　take　my　hand。
（She　offers　it　again。）

MAN　（kissing　it　with　his　hands　behind　his　back）。　Thanks；
gracious　young　lady：　I　feel　safe　at　last。　And　now　would　you　mind
breaking　the　news　to　your　mother？　I　had　better　not　stay　here
secretly　longer　than　is　necessary。

RAINA。　If　you　will　be　so　good　as　to　keep　perfectly　still　whilst
I　am　away。

MAN。　Certainly。　（He　sits　down　on　the　ottoman。）

　　　（Raina　goes　to　the　bed　and　wraps　herself　in　the
　　　　fur　cloak。　His　eyes　close。　She　goes　to　the　door；　
　　　　but　on　turning　for　a　last　look　at　him；　sees　that
　　　　he　is　dropping　of　to　sleep。）

RAINA　（at　the　door）。　You　are　not　going　asleep；　are　you？
（He　murmurs　inarticulately：　she　runs　to　him　and　shakes　him。）
Do　you　hear？　Wake　up：　you　are　falling　asleep。

MAN。　Eh？　Falling　aslee？　Oh；　no；　not　the　least　in
the　world：　I　was　only　thinking。　It's　all　right：　I'm　wide
awake。

RAINA　（severely）。　Will　you　please　stand　up　while　I　am
away。　（He　rises　reluctantly。）　All　the　time；　mind。

MAN　（standing　unsteadily）。　Certainlycertainly：　you
may　depend　on　me。

　　　　（Raina　looks　doubtfully　at　him。　He　smiles　
　　　　　foolishly。　She　goes　reluctantly；　turning　
　　　　　again　at　the　door；　and　almost　catching　him　
　　　　　in　the　act　of　yawning。　She　goes　out。）

MAN　（drowsily）。　Sleep；　sleep；　sleep；　sleep；　slee（Tbe
words　trail　of　into　a　murmur。　He　wakes　again　with　a
shock　on　the　point　of　falling。）　Where　am　I？　That's　what
I　want　to　know：　where　am　I？　Must　keep　awake。　Nothing
keeps　me　awake　except　dangerremember　that（intently）
danger；　danger；　danger；　dan　Where's　danger？　Must
find　it。　（He　starts　of　vaguely　around　the　room　in　search　of
it。）　What　am　I　looking　for？　Sleepdangerdon't　know。
（He　stumbles　against　the　bed。）　Ah；　yes：　now　I　know。　All
right　now。　I'm　to　go　to　bed；　but　not　to　sleepbe　sure
not　to　sleepbecause　of　danger。　Not　to　lie　down；　either；
only　sit　down。　（He　sits　on　the　bed。　A　bli