the inca of perusalem-第5章

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nothing。　I　dare　not　walk　down　the　principal　street　of　my　own
capital　in　a　coat　two　years　old；　though　the　sweeper　of　that
street　can　wear　one　ten　years　old。　You　talk　of　death　as　an
unpopular　thing。　You　are　wrong：　for　years　I　gave　them　art；
literature；　science；　prosperity；　that　they　might　live　more
abundantly；　and　they　hated　me；　ridiculed　me；　caricatured
me。　Now　that　I　give　them　death　in　its　frightfullest　forms；　they
are　devoted　to　me。　If　you　doubt　me；　ask　those　who　for　years　have
begged　our　taxpayers　in　vain　for　a　few　paltry　thousands　to　spend
on　Life：　on　the　bodies　and　minds　of　the　nation's　children；　on　the
beauty　and　healthfulness　of　its　cities；　on　the　honor　and　comfort
of　its　worn…out　workers。　They　refused：　and　because　they　refused；
death　is　let　loose　on　them。　They　grudged　a　few　hundreds　a　year
for　their　salvation：　they　now　pay　millions　a　day　for　their　own
destruction　and　damnation。　And　this　they　call　my　doing！　Let　them
say　it；　if　they　dare；　before　the　judgment…seat　at　which　they　and
I　shall　answer　at　last　for　what　we　have　left　undone　no　less　than
for　what　we　have　done。　＇Pulling　himself　together　suddenly。＇
Madam；　I　have　the　honor　to　be　your　most　obedient　＇he　clicks　his
heels　and　bows＇。

ERMYNTRUDE。　Sir！　＇She　curtsies。＇

THE　INCA　＇turning　at　the　door＇。　Oh；　by　the　way；　there　is　a
princess；　isn't　there；　somewhere　on　the　premises？

ERMYNTRUDE。　There　is。　Shall　I　fetch　her？

THE　INCA　＇dubious＇；　Pretty　awful；　I　suppose；　eh？

ERMYNTRUDE。　About　the　usual　thing。

THE　INCA　＇sighing＇。　Ah　well！　What　can　one　expect？　I　don't　think　I
need　trouble　her　personally。　Will　you　explain　to　her　about　the
boys？

ERMYNTRUDE。　I　am　afraid　the　explanation　will　fall　rather　flat
without　your　magnetism。

THE　INCA　＇returning　to　her　and　speaking　very　humanly＇。　You　are
making　fun　of　me。　Why　does　everybody　make　fun　of　me？　Is　it　fair？

ERMYNTRUDE　＇seriously＇。　Yes；　it　is　fair。　What　other　defence　have
we　poor　common　people　against　your　shining　armor；　your　mailed
fist；　your　pomp　and　parade；　your　terrible　power　over　us？　Are
these　things　fair？

THE　INCA。　Ah；　well；　perhaps；　perhaps。　＇He　looks　at　his　watch。＇　By
the　way；　there　is　time　for　a　drive　round　the　town　and　a　cup　of
tea　at　the　Zoo。　Quite　a　bearable　band　there：　it　does　not　play　any
patriotic　airs。　I　am　sorry　you　will　not　listen　to　any　more
permanent　arrangement；　but　if　you　would　care　to　come

ERMYNTRUDE　＇eagerly＇。　Ratherrrrrr。　I　shall　be　delighted。

THE　INCA　＇cautiously＇。　In　the　strictest　honor；　you　understand。

ERMYNTRUDE。　Don't　be　afraid。　I　promise　to　refuse　any　incorrect
proposals。

THE　INCA　＇enchanted＇。　Oh！　Charming　woman：　how　well　you　understand
men！

He　offers　her　his　arm：　they　go　out　together。







End