Oscar Wilde: The Complete Works. Knowledge house
vera
This is a dangerous thing, President. What can we do with this man?
president
We can use him.
vera
And afterwards?
president
[Shrugging his shoulders.] Strangle him.
prince paul
[Reading.] “The rights of humanity!” In the old times men carried out their rights for themselves as they lived, but nowadays every baby seems born with a social manifesto in its mouth much bigger than itself. “Nature is not a temple, but a workshop: we demand the right to labour.” Ah, I shall surrender my own rights in that respect.
vera
[Pacing up and down behind.] Oh, will he never come? will he never come?
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,