arms and the man-第16节
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fellow a young girl falls in love with？ Why； look at our ages！
I'm thirty…four： I don't suppose the young lady is much over
seventeen。 （This estimate produces a marked sensation； all the
rest turning and staring at one another。 He proceeds
innocently。） All that adventure which was life or death to me；
was only a schoolgirl's game to herchocolate creams and hide
and seek。 Here's the proof！ （He takes the photograph from the
table。） Now； I ask you； would a woman who took the affair
seriously have sent me this and written on it： 〃Raina； to her
chocolate cream soldiera souvenir〃？ （He exhibits the
photograph triumphantly； as if it settled the matter beyond all
possibility of refutation。）
PETKOFF。 That's what I was looking for。 How the deuce did it get
there？
BLUNTSCHLI （to Raina complacently）。 I have put everything
right； I hope； gracious young lady！
RAINA （in uncontrollable vexation）。 I quite agree with your
account of yourself。 You are a romantic idiot。 （Bluntschli is
unspeakably taken aback。） Next time I hope you will know the
difference between a schoolgirl of seventeen and a woman of
twenty…three。
BLUNTSCHLI （stupefied）。 Twenty…three！ （She snaps the photograph
contemptuously from his hand； tears it across； and throws the
pieces at his feet。）
SERGIUS （with grim enjoyment of Bluntschli's discomfiture）。
Bluntschli： my one last belief is gone。 Your sagacity is a
fraud； like all the other things。 You have less sense than even
I have。
BLUNTSCHLI （overwhelmed）。 Twenty…three！ Twenty…three！！ （He
considers。） Hm！ （Swiftly making up his mind。） In that case；
Major Petkoff； I beg to propose formally to become a suitor for
your daughter's hand； in place of Major Saranoff retired。
RAINA。 You dare！
BLUNTSCHLI。 If you were twenty…three when you said those things
to me this afternoon； I shall take them seriously。
CATHERINE （loftily polite）。 I doubt； sir； whether you quite
realize either my daughter's position or that of Major Sergius
Saranoff； whose place you propose to take。 The Petkoffs and the
Saranoffs are known as the richest and most important families
in the country。 Our position is almost historical： we can go
back for nearly twenty years。
PETKOFF。 Oh； never mind that； Catherine。 （To Bluntschli。） We
should be most happy； Bluntschli； if it were only a question of
your position； but hang it； you know； Raina is accustomed to a
very comfortable establishment。 Sergius keeps twenty horses。
BLUNTSCHLI。 But what on earth is the use of twenty horses？ Why；
it's a circus。
CATHERINE （severely）。 My daughter； sir； is accustomed to a
first…rate stable。
RAINA。 Hush； mother； you're making me ridiculous。
BLUNTSCHLI。 Oh； well； if it comes to a question of an
establishment； here goes！ （He goes impetuously to the table and
seizes the papers in the blue envelope。） How many horses did you
say？
SERGIUS。 Twenty； noble Switzer！
BLUNTSCHLI。 I have two hundred horses。 （They are amazed。） How
many carriages？
SERGIUS。 Three。
BLUNTSCHLI。 I have seventy。 Twenty…four of them will hold twelve
inside； besides two on the box； without counting the driver and
conductor。 How many tablecloths have you？
SERGIUS。 How the deuce do I know？
BLUNTSCHLI。 Have you four thousand？
SERGIUS。 NO。
BLUNTSCHLI。 I have。 I have nine thousand six hundred pairs of
sheets and blankets； with two thousand four hundred eider…down
quilts。 I have ten thousand knives and forks； and the same
quantity of dessert spoons。 I have six hundred servants。 I have
six palatial establishments； besides two livery stables； a tea
garden and a private house。 I have four medals for distinguished
services； I have the rank of an officer and the standing of a
gentleman； and I have three native languages。 Show me any man in
Bulgaria that can offer as much。
PETKOFF （with childish awe）。 Are you Emperor of Switzerland？
BLUNTSCHLI。 My rank is the highest known in Switzerland： I'm a
free citizen。
CATHERINE。 Then Captain Bluntschli； since you are my daughter's
choice； I shall not stand in the way of her happiness。 （Petkoff
is about to speak。） That is Major Petkoff's feeling also。
PETKOFF。 Oh； I shall be only too glad。 Two hundred horses！ Whew！
SERGIUS。 What says the lady？
RAINA （pretending to sulk）。 The lady says that he can keep his
tablecloths and his omnibuses。 I am not here to be sold to the
highest bidder。
BLUNTSCHLI。 I won't take that answer。 I appealed to you as a
fugitive； a beggar； and a starving man。 You accepted me。 You
gave me your hand to kiss； your bed to sleep in； and your roof
to shelter me
RAINA （interrupting him）。 I did not give them to the Emperor of
Switzerland！
BLUNTSCHLI。 That's just what I say。 （He catches her hand quickly
and looks her straight in the face as he adds； with confident
mastery） Now tell us who you did give them to。
RAINA （succumbing with a shy smile）。 To my chocolate cream
soldier！
BLUNTSCHLI （with a boyish laugh of delight）。 That'll do。 Thank
you。 （Looks at his watch and suddenly becomes businesslike。）
Time's up； Major。 You've managed those regiments so well that
you are sure to be asked to get rid of some of the Infantry of
the Teemok division。 Send them home by way of Lom Palanka。
Saranoff： don't get married until I come back： I shall be here
punctually at five in the evening on Tuesday fortnight。 Gracious
ladiesgood evening。 （He makes them a military bow； and goes。）
SERGIUS。 What a man！ What a man！
End
