arms and the man-第11节

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do；　draws　up　the　orders；　and　I　sign　'em。　Division　of　labour；
Major。　（Bluntschli　passes　him　a　paper。）　Another　one？　Thank　you。
（He　plants　the　papers　squarely　before　him；　sets　his　chair
carefully　parallel　to　them；　and　signs　with　the　air　of　a　man
resolutely　performing　a　difficult　and　dangerous　feat。）　This　hand
is　more　accustomed　to　the　sword　than　to　the　pen。

PETKOFF。　It's　very　good　of　you；　Bluntschli；　it　is　indeed；　to　let
yourself　be　put　upon　in　this　way。　Now　are　you　quite　sure　I　can
do　nothing？

CATHERINE　（in　a　low；　warning　tone）。　You　can　stop　interrupting；
Paul。

PETKOFF　（starting　and　looking　round　at　her）。　Eh？　Oh！　Quite
right；　my　love；　quite　right。　（He　takes　his　newspaper　up；　but
lets　it　drop　again。）　Ah；　you　haven't　been　campaigning；
Catherine：　you　don't　know　how　pleasant　it　is　for　us　to　sit　here；
after　a　good　lunch；　with　nothing　to　do　but　enjoy　ourselves。
There's　only　one　thing　I　want　to　make　me　thoroughly　comfortable。

CATHERINE。　What　is　that？

PETKOFF。　My　old　coat。　I'm　not　at　home　in　this　one：　I　feel　as　if
I　were　on　parade。

CATHERINE。　My　dear　Paul；　how　absurd　you　are　about　that　old　coat！
It　must　be　hanging　in　the　blue　closet　where　you　left　it。

PETKOFF。　My　dear　Catherine；　I　tell　you　I've　looked　there。　Am　I
to　believe　my　own　eyes　or　not？　（Catherine　quietly　rises　and
presses　the　button　of　the　electric　bell　by　the　fireplace。）　What
are　you　shewing　off　that　bell　for？　（She　looks　at　him　majestically；　
and　silently　resumes　her　chair　and　her　needlework。）　My　dear：　if
you　think　the　obstinacy　of　your　sex　can　make　a　coat　out　of　two
old　dressing　gowns　of　Raina's；　your　waterproof；　and　my
mackintosh；　you're　mistaken。　That's　exactly　what　the　blue　closet
contains　at　present。　（Nicola　presents　himself。）

CATHERINE　（unmoved　by　Petkoff's　sally）。　Nicola：　go　to　the　blue
closet　and　bring　your　master's　old　coat　herethe　braided　one　he
usually　wears　in　the　house。

NICOLA。　Yes；　madam。　（Nicola　goes　out。）

PETKOFF。　Catherine。

CATHERINE。　Yes；　Paul？

PETKOFF。　I　bet　you　any　piece　of　jewellery　you　like　to　order　from
Sophia　against　a　week's　housekeeping　money；　that　the　coat　isn't
there。

CATHERINE。　Done；　Paul。

PETKOFF　（excited　by　the　prospect　of　a　gamble）。　Come：　here's　an
opportunity　for　some　sport。　Who'll　bet　on　it？　Bluntschli：　I'll
give　you　six　to　one。

BLUNTSCHLI　（imperturbably）。　It　would　be　robbing　you；　Major。
Madame　is　sure　to　be　right。　（Without　looking　up；　he　passes
another　batch　of　papers　to　Sergius。）

SERCIUS　（also　excited）。　Bravo；　Switzerland！　Major：　I　bet　my
best　charger　against　an　Arab　mare　for　Raina　that　Nicola　finds
the　coat　in　the　blue　closet。

PETKOFF　（eagerly）。　Your　best　char

CATHERINE　（hastily　interrupting　him）。　Don't　be　foolish；　Paul。
An　Arabian　mare　will　cost　you　50；000　levas。

RAINA　（suddenly　coming　out　of　her　picturesque　revery）。　Really；
mother；　if　you　are　going　to　take　the　jewellery；　I　don't　see　why
you　should　grudge　me　my　Arab。

　　　（Nicola　comer　back　with　the　coat　and　brings　it　
　　　　to　Petkoff；　who　can　hardly　believe　his　eyes。）

CATHERINE。　Where　was　it；　Nicola？

NICOLA。　Hanging　in　the　blue　closet；　madam。

PETKOFF。　Well；　I　am　d

CATHERINE　（stopping　him）。　Paul！

PETKOFF。　I　could　have　sworn　it　wasn't　there。　Age　is　beginning　to
tell　on　me。　I'm　getting　hallucinations。　（To　Nicola。）　Here：　help
me　to　change。　Excuse　me；　Bluntschli。　（He　begins　changing　coats；
Nicola　acting　as　valet。）　Remember：　I　didn't　take　that　bet　of
yours；　Sergius。　You'd　better　give　Raina　that　Arab　steed
yourself；　since　you've　roused　her　expectations。　Eh；　Raina？　（He
looks　round　at　her；　but　she　is　again　rapt　in　the　landscape。　With
a　little　gush　of　paternal　affection　and　pride；　he　points　her　out
to　them　and　says）　She's　dreaming；　as　usual。

SERGIUS。　Assuredly　she　shall　not　be　the　loser。

PETKOFF。　So　much　the　better　for　her。　I　shan't　come　off　so　cheap；
I　expect。　（The　change　is　now　complete。　Nicola　goes　out　with　the
discarded　coat。）　Ah；　now　I　feel　at　home　at　last。　（He　sits　down
and　takes　his　newspaper　with　a　grunt　of　relief。）

BLUNTSCHLI　（to　Sergius；　handing　a　paper）。　That's　the　last
order。

PETKOFF　（jumping　up）。　What！　finished？

BLUNTSCHLI。　Finished。　（Petkoff　goes　beside　Sergius；　looks
curiously　over　his　left　shoulder　as　he　signs；　and　says　with
childlike　envy）　Haven't　you　anything　for　me　to　sign？

BLUNTSCHLI。　Not　necessary。　His　signature　will　do。

PETKOFF。　Ah；　well；　I　think　we've　done　a　thundering　good　day's
work。　（He　goes　away　from　the　table。）　Can　I　do　anything　more？

BLUNTSCHLI。　You　had　better　both　see　the　fellows　that　are　to　take
these。　（To　Sergius。）　Pack　them　off　at　once；　and　shew　them　that
I've　marked　on　the　orders　the　time　they　should　hand　them　in　by。
Tell　them　that　if　they　stop　to　drink　or　tell　storiesif　they're
five　minutes　late；　they'll　have　the　skin　taken　off　their　backs。

SERGIUS　（rising　indignantly）。　I'll　say　so。　And　if　one　of　them
is　man　enough　to　spit　in　my　face　for　insulting　him；　I'll　buy　his
discharge　and　give　him　a　pension。　（He　strides　out；　his　humanity
deeply　outraged。）

BLUNTSCHLI　（confidentially）。　Just　see　that　he　talks　to　them
properly；　Major；　will　you？

PETKOFF　（officiously）。　Quite　right；　Bluntschli；　quite　right。
I'll　see　to　it。　（He　goes　to　the　door　importantly；　but　hesitates
on　the　threshold。）　By　the　bye；　Catherine；　you　may　as　well　come；
too。　They'll　be　far　more　frightened　of　you　than　of　me。

CATHERINE　（putting　down　her　embroidery）。　I　daresay　I　had
better。　You　will　only　splutter　at　them。　（She　goes　out；　Petkoff
holding　the　door　for　her　and　following　her。）

BLUNTSCHLI。　What　a　country！　They　make　cannons　out　of　cherry
trees；　and　the　officers　send　for　their　wives　to　keep　discipline！
（He　begins　to　fold　and　docket　the　papers。　Raina；　who　has　risen
from　the　divan；　strolls　down　the　room　with　her　hands　clasped
behind　her；　and　looks　mischievously　at　him。）

RAINA。　You　look　ever　so　much　nicer　than　when　we　last　met。　（He
looks　up；　surprised。）　What　have　you　done　to　yourself？

BLUNTSCHLI。　Washed；　brushed；　good　night's　sleep　and　breakfast。
That's　all。

RAINA。　Did　you　get　back　safely　that　morning？

BLUNTSCHLI。　Quite；　thanks。

RAINA。　Were　they　angry　with　you　for　running　away　from　Sergius's
charge？

BLUNTSCHLI。　No；　they　were　glad；　because　they'd　all　just　run　away
themselves。

RAINA　（going　to　the　table；　and　leaning　over　it　towards　him）。　It
must　have　made　a　lovely　story　for　themall　that　about　me　and　my
room。

BLUNTSCHLI。　Capital　story。　But　I　only　told　it　to　one　of　thema
particular　friend。

RAINA。　On　whose　discretion　you　could　absolutely　rely？

BLUNTSCHLI。　Absolutely。

RAINA。　Hm！　He　told　it　all　to　my　father　and　Sergius　the　day　you
exchanged　the　prisoners。　（She　turns　away　and　strolls　carelessly
across　to　the　other　side　of　the　room。）

BLUNTSCHLI　（deeply　concerned　and　half　incredulous）。　No！　you
don't　mean　that；　do　you？

RAINA　（turning；　with　sudden　earnestness）。　I　do　indeed。　But　they
don't　know　that　it　was　in　this　house　that　you　hid。　If　Sergius
knew；　he　would　challenge　you　and　kill　you　in　a　duel。

BLUNTSCHLI。　Bless　me！　then　don't　tell　him。

RAINA　（full　of　reproach　for　his　levity）。　Can　you　realize　what
it　is　to　me　to　deceive　him？　I　want　to　be　quite　perfect　with
Sergiusno　meanness；　no　smallness；　no　deceit。　My　relation　to
him　is　the　one　really　beautiful　and　noble　part　of　my　life。　I
hope　you　can　understand　that。

BLUNTSCHLI　（sceptically）。　You　mean　that　you　wouldn't　like　him
to　find　out　that　the　story　about　the　ice　pudding　was
aaaYou　know。

RAINA　（wincing）。　Ah；　don't　talk　of　it　in　that　flippant　way。　I
lied：　I　know　it。　But　I　did　it　to　save　your　life。　He　would　have
killed　you。　That　was　the　second　time　I　ever　uttered　a　falsehood。
（Bluntschli　rises　quickly　and　looks　doubtfully　and　somewhat
severely　at　her。）　Do　you　remember　the　first　time？

BLUNTSCHLI。　I！　No。　Was　I　present？

RAINA。　Yes；　and　I　told　the　officer　who　was　searching　for　you
that　you　were　not　present。

BLUNTSCHLI。　True。　I　should　have　remembered　it。

RAINA　（greatly　encouraged）。　Ah；　it　is　natural　that　you　should
forget　it　first。　It　cost　you　nothing：　it　cost　me　a　lie！a　lie！！
（She　sits　down　on　the　ottoman；　looking　straight　before　her　with
her　hands　clasped　on　her　knee。　Bluntschli；　quite　touched；　goes
to　the　ottoman　with　a　particularly　reassuring　and　considerate
air；　and　sits　down　beside　her。）

BLUNTSCHLI。　My　dear　young　lady；　don't　let　this　worry　you。
Remember：　I'm　a　soldier。　Now　what　are　the　two　things　that　happen
to　a　soldier　so　often　that　he　comes　to　think　nothing　of　them？
One　is　hearing　people　tell　lies　（Raina　recoils）：　the　other　is
getting　his　life　saved　in　all　sorts　of　ways　by　all　sorts　of
people。

RAINA　（rising　in　indignant　protest）。　And　so　he　becomes　a
creature　incapable　of　faith　and　of　gratitude。

BLUNTSCHLI　（making　a　wry　face）。　Do　you　like　gratitude？　I　don't。
If　pity　is　akin　to　love；　gratitude　is　akin　to　the　other　thing。

RAINA。　Gratitude！　（Turning　on　him。）　If　you　are　incapable　of
gratitude　you　are　incapable　of　any　noble　sentiment。　Even　animals
are　grateful。　Oh；　I　see　now　exactly　what　you　think　of　me！　You
were　not　surprised　to　hear　me　lie。　To　you　it　was　something　I
probably　did　every　dayevery　hour。　That　is　how　men　think　of
women。　（She　walks　up　the　room　melodramatically。）

BLUNTSCHLI　（dubiously）。　There's　rea