arms and the man-第6部分

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　　　　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
　　　　apprehensive　in　spite　of　the　pugnacious　high
　　　　bridge　and　large　nostril；　his　assertive　chin；
　　　　would　not　be　out　of　place　in　a　Paris　salon。　In
　　　　short；　the　clever；　imaginative　barbarian　has　an
　　　　acute　critical　faculty　which　has　been　thrown　into
　　　　intense　activity　by　the　arrival　of　western
　　　　civilization　in　the　Balkans；　and　the　result　is
　　　　precisely　what　the　advent　of　nineteenth…century
　　　　thought　first　produced　in　England：　to…wit；
　　　　Byronism。　By　his　brooding　on　the　perpetual
　　　　failure；　not　only　of　others；　but　of　himself；　to
　　　　live　up　to　his　imaginative　ideals；　his　consequent
　　　　cynical　scorn　for　humanity；　the　jejune　credulity
　　　　as　to　the　absolute　validity　of　his　ideals　and　the
　　　　unworthiness　of　the　world　in　disregarding　them；
　　　　his　wincings　and　mockeries　under　the　sting　of　the
　　　　petty　disillusions　which　every　hour　spent　among
　　　　men　brings　to　his　infallibly　quick　observation；　he
　　　　has　acquired　the　half　tragic；　half　ironic　air；　the
　　　　mysterious　moodiness；　the　suggestion　of　a　strange
　　　　and　terrible　history　that　has　left　him　nothing　but
　　　　undying　remorse；　by　which　Childe　Harold　fascinated
　　　　the　grandmothers　of　his　English　contemporaries。
　　　　Altogether　it　is　clear　that　here　or　nowhere　is
　　　　Raina's　ideal　hero。　Catherine　is　hardly　less
　　　　enthusiastic；　and　much　less　reserved　in　shewing
　　　　her　enthusiasm。　As　he　enters　from　the　stable　gate；
　　　　she　rises　effusively　to　greet　him。　Petkoff　is
　　　　distinctly　less　disposed　to　make　a　fuss　about
　　　　him。）

PETKOFF。　Here　already；　Sergius。　Glad　to　see　you！

CATHERINE。　My　dear　Sergius！（She　holds　out　both　her　hands。）

SERGIUS　（kissing　them　with　scrupulous　gallantry）。　My　dear
mother；　if　I　may　call　you　so。

PETKOFF　（drily）。　Mother…in…law；　Sergius；　mother…in…law！　Sit
down；　and　have　some　coffee。

SERGIUS。　Thank　you；　none　for　me。　（He　gets　away　from　the　table
with　a　certain　distaste　for　Petkoff's　enjoyment　of　it；　and　posts
himself　with　conscious　grace　against　the　rail　of　the　steps
leading　to　the　house。）

CATHERINE。　You　look　superbsplendid。　The　campaign　has　improved
you。　Everybody　here　is　mad　about　you。　We　were　all　wild　with
enthusiasm　about　that　magnificent　cavalry　charge。

SERGIUS　（with　grave　irony）。　Madam：　it　was　the　cradle　and　the
grave　of　my　military　reputation。

CATHERINE。　How　so？

SERGIUS。　I　won　the　battle　the　wrong　way　when　our　worthy　Russian
generals　were　losing　it　the　right　way。　That　upset　their　plans；
and　wounded　their　self…esteem。　Two　of　their　colonels　got　their
regiments　driven　back　on　the　correct　principles　of　scientific
warfare。　Two　major…generals　got　killed　strictly　according　to
military　etiquette。　Those　two　colonels　are　now　major…generals；
and　I　am　still　a　simple　major。

CATHERINE。　You　shall　not　remain　so；　Sergius。　The　women　are　on
your　side；　and　they　will　see　that　justice　is　done　you。

SERGIUS。　It　is　too　late。　I　have　only　waited　for　the　peace　to
send　in　my　resignation。

PETKOFF　（dropping　his　cup　in　his　amazement）。　Your　resignation！　

CATHERINE。　Oh；　you　must　withdraw　it！

SERGIUS　（with　resolute；　measured　emphasis；　folding　his　arms）。　I
never　withdraw！

PETKOFF　（vexed）。　Now　who　could　have　supposed　you　were　going　to
do　such　a　thing？

SERGIUS　（with　fire）。　Everyone　that　knew　me。　But　enough　of
myself　and　my　affairs。　How　is　Raina；　and　where　is　Raina？

RAINA　（suddenly　coming　round　the　corner　of　the　house　and
standing　at　the　top　of　the　steps　in　the　path）。　Raina　is　here。
（She　makes　a　charming　picture　as　they　all　turn　to　look　at　her。
She　wears　an　underdress　of　pale　green　silk；　draped　with　an
overdress　of　thin　ecru　canvas　embroidered　with　gold。　On　her　head
she　wears　a　pretty　Phrygian　cap　of　gold　tinsel。　Sergius；　with　an
exclamation　of　pleasure；　goes　impulsively　to　meet　her。　She
stretches　out　her　hand：　he　drops　chivalrously　on　one　knee　and
kisses　it。）

PETKOFF　（aside　to　Catherine；　beaming　with　parental　pride）。
Pretty；　isn't　it？　She　always　appears　at　the　right　moment。

CATHERINE　（impatiently）。　Yes：　she　listens　for　it。　It　i