[Rushing forward to meet him.] Sire!
czar
[Nervous and frightened.] Don’t come too near me, boy! Don’t come too near me, I say! There is always something about an heir to a ·62· crown unwholesome to his father. Who is that man over there? I don’t know him. What is he doing? Is he a conspirator? Have you searched him? Give him till to-morrow to confess, then hang him!—hang him!
prince paul
Sire, you are anticipating history. This is Count Petouchof, your new ambassador to Berlin. He is come to kiss hands on his appointment.
czar
To kiss my hand? There is some plot in it. He wants to poison me. There, kiss my son’s hand! it will do quite as well.
[Prince Paul signs to Petouchof to leave the room. Exit Petouchof and the guards. Czar sinks down into his chair. The courtiers remain silent.]
prince paul
[Approaching.] Sire! will Your Majesty—
czar
What do you startle me like that for? No, I won’t. [Watches the courtiers nervously.] Why are you clattering your sword, sir? [To Count Rouvaloff.] Take it off, I shall have no man wear a sword in my presence [looking at Czarevitch], least of all my son. [To Prince Paul.] ·63· You are not angry with me, Prince? You won’t desert me, will you? Say you won’t desert me. What do you want? You can have anything—anything.
prince paul
[Bowing very low.] Sire! ’tis enough for me to have your confidence. [Aside.] I was afraid he was going to revenge himself, and give me another decoration.
czar
[Returning to his chair.] Well, gentlemen.
marq. de poiv.
Sire, I have the honour to present to you a loyal address from your subjects in the Province of Archangel, expressing their horror at the last attempt on Your Majesty’s life.
prince paul
The last attempt but two, you ought to have said, Marquis. Don’t you see it is dated three weeks back?
czar
They are good people in the Province of Archangel—honest, loyal people. They love me very much—simple, loyal people; give them a new saint, it costs nothing. Well, Alexis ·64· [turning to the Czarevitch]—how many traitors were hung this morning?
czarevitch
There were three men strangled, Sire.
czar
There should have been three thousand. I would to God that this people had but one neck that I might strangle them with one noose! Did they tell anything? whom did they implicate? what did they confess?
czarevitch
Nothing, Sire.
czar
They should have been tortured then; why weren’t they tortured? Must I always be fighting in the dark? Am I never to know from what root these traitors spring?
czarevitch
What root should there be of discontent among the people but tyranny and injustice amongst their rulers?
czar
What did you say, boy? tyranny! tyranny! Am I a tyrant? I am not. I love the people. ·65· I’m their father. I’m called so in every official proclamation. Have a care, boy; have a care. You don’t seem to be cured yet of your foolish tongue. [Goes over to Prince Paul and puts his hand on his shoulder.] Prince Paul, tell me were there many people there this morning to see the Nihilists hung?
prince paul
Hanging is of course a good deal less of a novelty in Russia now, Sire, than it was three or four years ago; and you know how easily the people get tired even of their best amusements. But the square and the tops of the houses were really quite crowded, were they not, Prince? [To the Czarevitch who takes no notice.]
czar
That’s right; all loyal citizens should be there. It shows them what to look forward to. Did you arrest any one in the crowd?
prince paul
Yes, Sire, a woman for cursing your name. [The Czarevitch starts anxiously.] She was the mother of the two criminals.
czar
[Looking at Czarevitch.] She should have blessed me for having rid her of her children. Send her to prison.
·66· czarevitch
The prisons of Russia are too full already, Sire. There is no room in them for any more victims.
czar
They don’t die fast enough, then. You should put more of them into one cell at once. You don’t keep them long enough in the mines. If you do they’re sure to die; but you’re all too merciful. I’m too merciful myself. Send her to Siberia. She is sure to die on the way. [Enter an Aide-de-Camp.] Who’s that? Who’s that?
aide-de-camp
A letter for His Imperial Majesty.
czar
[To Prince Paul.] I won’t open it. There may be something in it.
prince paul
It would be a very disappointing letter, Sire, if there wasn’t. [Takes letter himself, and reads it.]
prince petrovitch
[To Count Rouvaloff.] It must be some sad news. I know that smile too well.
·67· prince paul
From the Chief of Police at Archangel, Sire. “The Governor of the province was shot this morning by a woman as he was entering the courtyard of his own house. The assassin has been seized."
czar
I never trusted the people of Archangel. It’s a nest of Nihilists and conspirators. Take away their saints; they don’t deserve them.
prince paul
Your Highness would punish them more severely by giving them an extra one. Three governors shot in two months. [Smiles to himself.] Sire, permit me to recommend your loyal subject, the Marquis de Poivrard, as the new Governor of your Province of Archangel.
marq. de poiv.
[Hurriedly.] Sire, I am unfit for this post.
