Knowledge house - Oscar Wilde - The Complete Works

prince paul

“The family as subversive of true socialistic and communal unity is to be annihilated.” Yes, ·92· President, I agree completely with Article 5. A family is a terrible incumbrance, especially when one is not married. [ Three knocks at the door .]

vera

Alexis at last!

Password : Væ tyrannis! Answer : Væ victis! [ Enter Michael Stroganoff .]

president

Michael, the regicide! Brothers, let us do honour to a man who has killed a king.

vera

[ Aside ]. [ E: Aside .]] Oh, he will come yet.

president

Michael, you have saved Russia.

michael

Ay, Russia was free for a moment when the tyrant fell, but the sun of liberty has set again like that false dawn which cheats our eyes in autumn.

president

The dread night of tyranny is not yet past for Russia.

·93· michael

[ Clutching his knife .] One more blow, and the end is come indeed.

vera

[ Aside .] One more blow! What does he mean? Oh, impossible! but why is he not with us? Alexis! Alexis! why are you not here?

president

But how did you escape, Michael? They said you had been seized.

michael

I was dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard. The Colonel on duty was a brother, and gave me the password. I drove through the troops in safety with it, and, thanks to my good horse, reached the walls before the gates were closed.

president

What a chance his coming out on the balcony was!

michael

A chance? There is no such thing as chance. It was God’s finger led him there.

·94· president

And where have you been these three days?

michael

Hiding in the house of the priest Nicholas at the cross-roads.

president

Nicholas is an honest man.

michael

Ay, honest enough for a priest. I am here now for vengeance on a traitor.

vera

[ Aside .] O God, will he never come? Alexis! why are you not here? You cannot have turned traitor!

michael

[ Seeing Prince Paul .] Prince Paul Maraloffski here! By George, a lucky capture! This must have been Vera’s doing. She is the only one who could have lured that serpent into the trap.

president

Prince Paul has just taken the oath.

·95· vera

Alexis, the Czar, has banished him from Russia.

michael

Bah! A blind to cheat us. We will keep Prince Paul here, and find some office for him in our reign of terror. He is well accustomed by this time to bloody work.

prince paul

[ Approaching Michael .] That was a long shot of yours, mon camarade.

michael

I have had a good deal of practice shooting, since I have been a boy, off your Highness’s wild boars.

prince paul

Are my gamekeepers like moles, then, always asleep!

michael

No, Prince. I am one of them; but like you, I am fond of robbing what I am put to watch.

president

This must be a new atmosphere for you, ·96· Prince Paul. We speak the truth to one another here.

prince paul

How misleading you must find it. You have an odd medley here, President—a little rococo, I am afraid.

president

You recognise a good many friends, I dare say?

prince paul

Yes, there is always more brass than brains in an aristocracy.

president

But you are here yourself?

prince paul

I? As I cannot be Prime Minister, I must be a Nihilist. There is no alternative.

vera

O God, will he never come? The hand is on the stroke of the hour. Will he never come?

michael

[ Aside .] President, you know what we have to do? ’Tis but a sorry hunter who leaves the ·97· wolf cub alive to avenge his father. How are we to get at this boy? It must be to-night. To-morrow he will be throwing some sop of reform to the people, and it will be too late for a Republic.

prince paul

You are quite right. Good kings are the enemies of Democracy, and when he has begun by banishing me you may be sure he intends to be a patriot.

michael

I am sick of patriot kings; what Russia needs is a Republic.

prince paul

Messieurs, I have brought you two documents which I think will interest you—the proclamation which this young Czar intends publishing to-morrow, and a plan of the Winter Palace, where he sleeps to-night. [ Hands paper .]

vera

I dare not ask them what they are plotting about. Oh, why is Alexis not here?

president

Prince, this is most valuable information. Michael, you were right. If it is not to-night it will be too late. Read that.

·98· michael

Ah! A loaf of bread flung to a starving nation. A lie to cheat the people. [ Tears it up .] It must be to-night. I do not believe in him. Would he have kept his crown had he loved the people? But how are we to get at him?

prince paul

The key of the private door in the street. [ Hands key .]

president

Prince, we are in your debt.

prince paul

[ Smiling .] The normal condition of the Nihilists.

michael

Ay, but we are paying our debts off with interest now. Two Emperors in one week. That will make the balance straight. We would have thrown in a Prime Minister if you had not come.

prince paul

Ah, 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.