Oscar Wilde: The Complete Works. Knowledge house
As for myself, what have you got fit to eat?
peter
Some good dried venison, your Excellency—and some rye whisky.
·9· colonel
Nothing else?
peter
Why, more whisky, Your Excellency.
colonel
What clods these peasants are! You have a better room than this?
peter
Yes, sir.
colonel
Bring me there. Sergeant, post your picket outside, and see that these scoundrels do not communicate with any one. No letter writing, you dogs, or you’ll be flogged for it. Now for the venison. [To Peter bowing before him.] Get out of the way, you fool! Who is that girl? [Sees Vera.]
peter
My daughter, Your Highness.
colonel
Can she read and write?
peter
Ay, that she can, sir.
·10· colonel
Then she is a dangerous woman. No peasant should be allowed to do anything of the kind. Till your fields, store your harvest, pay your taxes, and obey your masters—that is your duty.
vera
Who are our masters?
colonel
Young woman, these men are going to the mines for life for asking the same foolish question.
vera
Then they have been unjustly condemned.
peter
Vera, keep your tongue quiet. She is a foolish girl, sir, who talks too much.
colonel
Every woman does talk too much. Come, where is this venison? Count, I am waiting for you. How can you see anything in a girl with coarse hands? [He passes with Peter and his Aide-de-Camp into an inner room.]
vera
[To one of the Nihilists.] Won’t you sit down? you must be tired.
·11· sergeant
Come now, young woman, no talking to my prisoners.
vera
I shall speak to them. How much do you want?
sergeant
How much have you?
vera
Will you let these men sit down if I give you this? [Takes off her peasant’s necklace.] It is all I have; it was my mother’s.
sergeant
Well, it looks pretty enough, and it is heavy too. What do you want with these men?
vera
They are hungry and tired. Let me go to them?
one of the soldiers
Let the wench be, if she pays us.
sergeant
Well, have your way. If the Colonel sees you, you may have to come with us, my pretty one.
·12· vera
[Advances to the Nihilists.] Sit down; you must be tired. [Serves them food.] What are you?
prisoner
Nihilists.
vera
Who put you in chains?
prisoner
Our father, the Czar.
vera
Why?
prisoner
For loving liberty too well.
vera
[To prisoner, who hides his face.] What did you want to do?
dmitri
To give liberty to thirty millions of people enslaved to one man.
vera
[Startled at the voice.] What is your name?
·13· dmitri
I have no name.
vera
Where are your friends?
dmitri
I have no friends.
vera
Let me see your face.
dmitri
You will see nothing but suffering in it. They have tortured me.
vera
[Tears the cloak from his face.] Oh, God! Dmitri! my brother!
dmitri
Hush! Vera; be calm. You must not let my father know; it would kill him. I thought I could free Russia. I heard men talk of Liberty one night in a café. I had never heard the word before. It seemed to be a new god they spoke of. I joined them. It was there all the money went. Five months ago they seized us. They found me printing the paper. I am going to the mines for life. I could not write. I thought it would be better to let you think I was dead; for they are bringing me to a living tomb.
·14· vera
[Looking round.] You must escape, Dmitri. I will take your place.
dmitri
Impossible! You can only revenge us.
vera
I shall revenge you.
dmitri
Listen! there is a house in Moscow——
sergeant
Prisoners, attention!—the Colonel is coming—young woman, your time is up.
[Enter Colonel, Aide-de-Camp and Peter.]
peter
I hope Your Highness is pleased with the venison. I shot it myself.
colonel
It had been better had you talked less about it. Sergeant, get ready. [Gives purse to Peter.] Here, you cheating rascal!
peter
My fortune is made! Long live Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will come often this way.
·15· colonel
By Saint Nicholas, I hope not. It is too cold here for me. [To Vera]. [E: Vera.]] Young girl, don’t ask questions again about what does not concern you. I will not forget your face.
vera
Nor I yours, or what you are doing.
colonel
You peasants are getting too saucy since you ceased to be serfs, and the knout is the best school for you to learn politics in. Sergeant, proceed.
[The Colonel turns and goes to top of stage. The prisoners pass out double file; as Dmitri passes Vera he lets a piece of paper fall on the ground; she puts her foot on it and remains immobile.]
peter
[Who has been counting the money the Colonel gave him.] Long life to Your Highness. I will hope to see another batch soon. [Suddenly catches sight of Dmitri as he is going out of the door,