arms and the man-第3部分

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and　his　unwashed；　unkempt　condition　make　it　possible　to　judge；
he　is　a　man　of　middling　stature　and　undistinguished　appearance；
with　strong　neck　and　shoulders；　a　roundish；　obstinate　looking
head　covered　with　short　crisp　bronze　curls；　clear　quick　blue
eyes　and　good　brows　and　mouth；　a　hopelessly　prosaic　nose　like
that　of　a　strong…minded　baby；　trim　soldierlike　carriage　and
energetic　manner；　and　with　all　his　wits　about　him　in　spite　of
his　desperate　predicamenteven　with　a　sense　of　humor　of　it；
without；　however；　the　least　intention　of　trifling　with　it　or
throwing　away　a　chance。　He　reckons　up　what　he　can　guess　about
Rainaher　age；　her　social　position；　her　character；　the　extent
to　which　she　is　frightenedat　a　glance；　and　continues；　more
politely　but　still　most　determinedly）　Excuse　my　disturbing　you；
but　you　recognise　my　uniformServian。　If　I'm　caught　I　shall　be
killed。　（Determinedly。）　Do　you　understand　that？

RAINA。　Yes。

MAN。　Well；　I　don't　intend　to　get　killed　if　I　can　help　it。　（Still
more　determinedly。）　Do　you　understand　that？　（He　locks　the　door
with　a　snap。）

RAINA　（disdainfully）。　I　suppose　not。　（She　draws　herself　up
superbly；　and　looks　him　straight　in　the　face；　saying　with
emphasis）　Some　soldiers；　I　know；　are　afraid　of　death。

MAN　（with　grim　goodhumor）。　All　of　them；　dear　lady；　all　of　them；
believe　me。　It　is　our　duty　to　live　as　long　as　we　can；　and　kill
as　many　of　the　enemy　as　we　can。　Now　if　you　raise　an　alarm

RAINA　（cutting　him　short）。　You　will　shoot　me。　How　do　you　know
that　I　am　afraid　to　die？

MAN　（cunningly）。　Ah；　but　suppose　I　don't　shoot　you；　what　will
happen　then？　Why；　a　lot　of　your　cavalrythe　greatest
blackguards　in　your　armywill　burst　into　this　pretty　room　of
yours　and　slaughter　me　here　like　a　pig；　for　I'll　fight　like　a
demon：　they　shan't　get　me　into　the　street　to　amuse　themselves
with：　I　know　what　they　are。　Are　you　prepared　to　receive　that
sort　of　company　in　your　present　undress？　（Raina；　suddenly
conscious　of　her　nightgown；　instinctively　shrinks　and　gathers　it
more　closely　about　her。　He　watches　her；　and　adds；　pitilessly）
It's　rather　scanty；　eh？　（She　turns　to　the　ottoman。　He　raises　his
pistol　instantly；　and　cries）　Stop！　（She　stops。）　Where　are　you
going？

RAINA　（with　dignified　patience）。　Only　to　get　my　cloak。

MAN　（darting　to　the　ottoman　and　snatching　the　cloak）。　A　good
idea。　No：　I'll　keep　the　cloak：　and　you　will　take　care　that
nobody　comes　in　and　sees　you　without　it。　This　is　a　better　weapon
than　the　pistol。　（He　throws　the　pistol　down　on　the　ottoman。）

RAINA　（revolted）。　It　is　not　the　weapon　of　a　gentleman！

MAN。　It's　good　enough　for　a　man　with　only　you　to　stand　between
him　and　death。　（As　they　look　at　one　another　for　a　moment；　Raina
hardly　able　to　believe　that　even　a　Servian　officer　can　be　so
cynically　and　selfishly　unchivalrous；　they　are　startled　by　a
sharp　fusillade　in　the　street。　The　chill　of　imminent　death
hushes　the　man's　voice　as　he　adds）　Do　you　hear？　If　you　are　going
to　bring　those　scoundrels　in　on　me　you　shall　receive　them　as　you
are。　（Raina　meets　his　eye　with　unflinching　scorn。　Suddenly　he
starts；　listening。　There　is　a　step　outside。　Someone　tries　the
door；　and　then　knocks　hurriedly　and　urgently　at　it。　Raina　looks
at　the　man；　breathless。　He　throws　up　his　head　with　the　gesture
of　a　man　who　sees　that　it　is　all　over　with　him；　and；　dropping
the　manner　which　he　has　been　assuming　to　intimidate　her；　flings
the　cloak　to　her；　exclaiming；　sincerely　and　kindly）　No　use：　I'm
done　for。　Quick！　wrap　yourself　up：　they're　coming！

RAINA　（catching　the　cloak　eagerly）。　Oh；　thank　you。　（She　wraps
herself　up　with　great　relief。　He　draws　his　sabre　and　turns　to
the　door；　waiting。）

LOUKA　（outside；　knocking）。　My　lady；　my　lady！　Get　up；　quick；　and
open　the　door。

RAINA　（anxiously）。　What　will　you　do？

MAN　（grimly）。　Never　mind。　Keep　out　of　the　way。　It　will　not　last
long。

RAINA　（impulsively）。　I'll　help　you。　Hide　yourself；　oh；　hide
yourself；　quick；　behind　the　curtain。　（She　seizes　him　by　a　torn
strip　of　his　sleeve；　and　pulls　him　towards　the　window。）

MAN　（yielding　to　her）。　There　is　just　half　a　chance；　if　you　keep
your　head。　Remember：　nine　soldiers　out　of　ten　are　born　fools。
（He　hides　behind　the　curtain；　looking　out　for　a　moment　to　say；
finally）　If　they　find　me；　I　promise　you　a　fighta　devil　of　a
fight！　（He　disappears。　Raina　takes　of　the　cloak　and　throws　it
across　the　foot　of　the　bed。　Then　with　a　sleepy；　disturbed　air；
she　opens　the　door。　Louka　enters　excitedly。）

LOUKA。　A　man　has　been　seen　climbing　up　the　water…pipe　to　your
balconya　Servian。　The　soldiers　want　to　search　for　him；　and
they　are　so　wild　and　drunk　and　furious。　My　lady　says　you　are　to
dress　at　once。

RAINA　（as　if　annoyed　at　being　disturbed）。　They　shall　not　search
here。　Why　have　they　been　let　in？

CATHERINE　（coming　in　hastily）。　Raina；　darling；　are　you　safe？
Have　you　seen　anyone　or　heard　anything？

RAINA。　I　heard　the　shooting。　Surely　the　soldiers　will　not　dare
come　in　here？

CATHERINE。　I　have　found　a　Russian　officer；　thank　Heaven：　he
knows　Sergius。　（Speaking　through　the　door　to　someone　outside。）
Sir；　will　you　come　in　now！　My　daughter　is　ready。

　　　　（A　young　Russian　officer；　in　Bulgarian　uniform；　
　　　　　enters；　sword　in　hand。）

THE　OFFICER。　（with　soft；　feline　politeness　and　stiff　military
carriage）。　Good　evening；　gracious　lady；　I　am　sorry　to　intrude；
but　there　is　a　fugitive　hiding　on　the　balcony。　Will　you　and　the
gracious　lady　your　mother　please　to　withdraw　whilst　we　search？

RAINA　（petulantly）。　Nonsense；　sir；　you　can　see　that　there　is　no
one　on　the　balcony。　（She　throws　the　shutters　wide　open　and
stands　with　her　back　to　the　curtain　where　the　man　is　hidden；
pointing　to　the　moonlit　balcony。　A　couple　of　shots　are　fired
right　under　the　window；　and　a　bullet　shatters　the　glass　opposite
Raina；　who　winks　and　gasps；　but　stands　her　ground；　whilst
Catherine　screams；　and　the　officer　rushes　to　the　balcony。）

THE　OFFICER。　（on　the　balcony；　shouting　savagely　down　to　the
street）。　Cease　firing　there；　you　fools：　do　you　hear？　Cease
firing；　damn　you。　（He　glares　down　for　a　moment；　then　turns　to
Raina；　trying　to　resume　his　polite　manner。）　Could　anyone　have
got　in　without　your　knowledge？　Were　you　asleep？

RAINA。　No；　I　have　not　been　to　bed。

THE　OFFICER。　（impatiently；　coming　back　into　the　room）。　Your
neighbours　have　their　heads　so　full　of　runaway　Servians　that
they　see　them　everywhere。　（Politely。）　Gracious　lady；　a　thousand
pardons。　Good…night。　（Military　bow；　which　Raina　returns　coldly。
Another　to　Catherine；　who　follows　him　out。　Raina　closes　the
shutters。　She　turns　and　sees　Louka；　who　has　been　watching　the
scene　curiously。）

RAINA。　Don't　leave　my　mother；　Louka；　whilst　the　soldiers　are
here。　（Louka　glances　at　Raina；　at　the　ottoman；　at　the　curtain；
then　purses　her　lips　secretively；　laughs　to　herself；　and　goes
out。　Raina　follows　her　to　the　door；　shuts　it　behind　her　with　a
slam；　and　locks　it　violently。　The　man　immediately　steps　out　from
behind　the　curtain；　sheathing　his　sabre；　and　dismissing　the
danger　from　his　mind　in　a　businesslike　way。）

MAN。　A　narrow　shave；　but　a　miss　is　as　good　as　a　mile。　Dear　young
lady；　your　servant　until　death。　I　wish　for　your　sake　I　had
joined　the　Bulgarian　army　instead　of　the　Servian。　I　am　not　a
native　Servian。

RAINA　（haughtily）。　No；　you　are　one　of　the　Austrians　who　set　the
Servians　on　to　rob　us　of　our　national　liberty；　and　who　officer
their　army　for　them。　We　hate　them！

MAN。　Austrian！　not　I。　Don't　hate　me；　dear　young　lady。　I　am　only
a　Swiss；　fighting　merely　as　a　professional　soldier。　I　joined
Servia　because　it　was　nearest　to　me。　Be　generous：　you've　beaten
us　hollow。

RAINA。　Have　I　not　been　generous？

MAN。　Noble！heroic！　But　I'm　not　saved　yet。　This　particular　rush
will　soon　pass　through；　but　the　pursuit　will　go　on　all　night　by
fits　and　starts。　I　must　take　my　chance　to　get　off　during　a　quiet
interval。　You　don't　mind　my　waiting　just　a　minute　or　two；　do
you？

RAINA。　Oh；　no：　I　am　sorry　you　will　have　to　go　into　danger　again。
（Motioning　towards　ottoman。）　Won't　you　sit（She　breaks　off
with　an　irrepressible　cry　of　alarm　as　she　catches　sight　of　the
pistol。　The　man；　all　nerves；　shies　like　a　frightened　horse。）

MAN　（irritably）。　Don't　frighten　me　like　that。　What　is　it？

RAINA。　Your　pistol！　It　was　staring　that　officer　in　the　face　all
the　time。　What　an　escape！

MAN　（vexed　at　being　unnecessarily　terrified）。　Oh；　is　that　all？

RAINA　（staring　at　him　rather　superciliously；　conceiving　a
poorer　and　poorer　opinion　of　him；　and　feeling　proportionately
more　and　more　at　her　ease　with　him）。　I　am　sorry　I　frightened
you。　（She　takes　up　the　pistol　and　hands　it　to　him。）　Pray　take　it
to　protect　yourself　against　me。

MAN　（grinning　wearily　at　the　sarcasm　as　he　takes　the　pistol）。
No　use；　dear　young　lady：　there's　nothing　in　it。　It's　not　loaded。
（He　makes　a　grimace　at　it；　and　drops　it　disparagingly　into　his
revolver　case。）

RAINA。　Load　it　by　all　means。

MAN。　I've　no　ammunition。　What　use　are　cartridges　in　battle？　I
always　carry　chocolate　instead；　and　I　finished　the　last　cake　of
that　yesterday。

RAINA　（outraged　in　her　most　cherished　ideals　of　manhood）。
Chocolate！　Do　you　stuff　your　pockets　with　sweetslike　a
schoolboyeven　in　the　field？

MAN。　Yes。　Isn't　it　contemptible？

　　　（Raina　stares　at　him；　unable　to　utter　her
　　　　feelings。　Then　she　sails　away　scornfully　to　the
　　　　chest　of　drawers；　and　returns　with　the　box　of
　　　　confectionery　in　her　hand。）

RAINA。　Allow　me。　I　am　sorry　I　have　eaten　them　all　except　these。
（She　offers　him　the　box。）

MAN　（ravenously）。　You're　an　angel！　（He　gobbles　the　comfits。）
Creams！　Delicious！　（He　looks　anxiously　to　see　whether　there　are
any　more。　There　are　none。　He　accepts　the　inevitable　with
pathetic　goodhumor；　and　says；　with　grateful　emotion）　Bless　you；
dear　lady。　You　can　always　tell　an　old　soldier　by　the　inside　of
his　holsters　and　cartridge　boxes。　The　young　ones　carry　pistols
and　cartridges；　the　old　ones；　grub。　Thank　you。　（He　hands　back
the　box。　She　snatches　it　contemptuously　from　him　and　throws　it
away。　This　impatient　action　is　so　sudden　that　he　shies　again。）
Ugh！　Don't　do　things　so　suddenly；　gracious　lady。　Don't　revenge
yourself　because　I　frightened　you　just　now。

RAINA　（superbly）。　Frighten　me！　Do　you　know；　s