I am sorry you told me. It robs my visit of all its picturesqueness and adventure. ·99· I thought I was perilling my head by coming here, and you tell me I have saved it. One is sure to be disappointed if one tries to get romance out of modern life.
michael
It is not so romantic a thing to lose one’s head, Prince Paul.
prince paul
No, but it must often be very dull to keep it. Don’t you find that sometimes? [Clock strikes six.]
vera
[Sinking into a seat.] Oh, it is past the hour! It is past the hour!
michael
[To President] [E: President.]] Remember to-morrow will be too late.
president
Brothers, it is full time. Which of us is absent?
conspirators
Alexis! Alexis!
·100· president
Michael, read Rule 7.
michael
“When any brother shall have disobeyed a summons to be present, the President shall enquire if there is anything alleged against him.”
president
Is there anything against our brother Alexis?
conspirator
He wears a crown! He wears a crown!
president
Michael, read Article 7 of the Code of Revolution.
michael
“Between the Nihilists and all men who wear crowns above their fellows, there is war to the death.”
president
Brothers, what say you? Is Alexis, the Czar, guilty or not?
omnes
He is guilty!
·101· president
What shall the penalty be?
omnes
Death!
president
Let the lots be prepared; it shall be to-night.
prince paul
Ah, this is really interesting! I was getting afraid conspiracies were as dull as courts are.
professor marfa
My forte is more in writing pamphlets than in taking shots. Still a regicide has always a place in history.
michael
If your pistol is as harmless as your pen, this young tyrant will have a long life.
prince paul
You ought to remember, too, Professor, that if you were seized, as you probably would be, and hung, as you certainly would be, there would be nobody left to read your own articles.
president
Brothers, are you ready?
·102· vera
[Starting up.] Not yet! Not yet! I have a word to say.
michael
[Aside.] Plague take her! I knew it would come to this.
vera
This boy has been our brother. Night after night he has perilled his own life to come here. Night after night, when every street was filled with spies, every house with traitors. Delicately nurtured like a king’s son, he has dwelt among us.
president
Ay! under a false name. He lied to us at the beginning. He lies to us now at the end.
vera
I swear he is true. There is not a man here who does not owe him his life a thousand times. When the bloodhounds were on us that night, who saved us from arrest, torture, flogging, death, but he ye seek to kill?——
michael
To kill all tyrants is our mission!
·103· vera
He is no tyrant. I know him well! He loves the people.
president
We know him too; he is a traitor.
vera
A traitor! Three days ago he could have betrayed every man of you here, and the gibbet would have been your doom. He gave you all your lives once. Give him a little time—a week, a month, a few days; but not now!—O God, not now!
conspirators
[Brandishing daggers.] To-night! to-night! to-night!
vera
Peace, you gorged adders; peace!
michael
What, are we not here to annihilate? shall we not keep our oath?
vera
Your oath! your oath! Greedy that you are of gain, every man’s hand lusting for his ·104· neighbour’s pelf, every heart set on pillage and rapine; who, of ye all, if the crown were set on his head, would give an empire up for the mob to scramble for? The people are not yet fit for a Republic in Russia.
president
Every nation is fit for a Republic.
michael
The man is a tyrant.
vera
A tyrant! Hath he not dismissed his evil counsellors? That ill-omened raven of his father’s life hath had his wings clipped and his claws pared, and comes to us croaking for revenge. Oh, have mercy on him! Give him a week to live!
president
Vera pleading for a king!
vera
[Proudly.] I plead not for a king, but for a brother.
michael
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