60 Plays: The George Bernard Shaw Edition (Illustrated). GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

and is approaching the house when Raina returns wearing a hat and jacket in the height of the Vienna fashion of the previous year, 1885. Louka makes way proudly for her, and then goes into the house.)

      RAINA. I’m ready! What’s the matter? (Gaily.) Have you been flirting with Louka?

      SERGIUS (hastily). No, no. How can you think such a thing?

      RAINA (ashamed of herself). Forgive me, dear: it was only a jest. I am so happy to-day.

      (He goes quickly to her, and kisses her hand remorsefully. Catherine comes out and calls to them from the top of the steps.)

      CATHERINE (coming down to them). I am sorry to disturb you, children; but Paul is distracted over those three regiments. He does not know how to get them to Phillipopolis; and he objects to every suggestion of mine. You must go and help him, Sergius. He is in the library.

      RAINA (disappointed). But we are just going out for a walk.

      SERGIUS. I shall not be long. Wait for me just five minutes. (He runs up the steps to the door.)

      RAINA (following him to the foot of the steps and looking up at him with timid coquetry). I shall go round and wait in full view of the library windows. Be sure you draw father’s attention to me. If you are a moment longer than five minutes, I shall go in and fetch you, regiments or no regiments.

      SERGIUS (laughing). Very well. (He goes in. Raina watches him until he is out of her sight. Then, with a perceptible relaxation of manner, she begins to pace up and down about the garden in a brown study.)

      CATHERINE. Imagine their meeting that Swiss and hearing the whole story! The very first thing your father asked for was the old coat we sent him off in. A nice mess you have got us into!

      RAINA (gazing thoughtfully at the gravel as she walks). The little beast!

      CATHERINE. Little beast! What little beast?

      RAINA. To go and tell! Oh, if I had him here, I’d stuff him with chocolate creams till he couldn’t ever speak again!

      CATHERINE. Don’t talk nonsense. Tell me the truth, Raina. How long was he in your room before you came to me?

      RAINA (whisking round and recommencing her march in the opposite direction). Oh, I forget.

      CATHERINE. You cannot forget! Did he really climb up after the soldiers were gone, or was he there when that officer searched the room?

      RAINA. No. Yes, I think he must have been there then.

      CATHERINE. You think! Oh, Raina, Raina! Will anything ever make you straightforward? If Sergius finds out, it is all over between you.

      RAINA (with cool impertinence). Oh, I know Sergius is your pet. I sometimes wish you could marry him instead of me. You would just suit him. You would pet him, and spoil him, and mother him to perfection.

      CATHERINE (opening her eyes very widely indeed). Well, upon my word!

      RAINA (capriciously — half to herself). I always feel a longing to do or say something dreadful to him — to shock his propriety — to scandalize the five senses out of him! (To Catherine perversely.) I don’t care whether he finds out about the chocolate cream soldier or not. I half hope he may. (She again turns flippantly away and strolls up the path to the corner of the house.)

      CATHERINE. And what should I be able to say to your father, pray?

      RAINA (over her shoulder, from the top of the two steps). Oh, poor father! As if he could help himself! (She turns the corner and passes out of sight.)

      CATHERINE (looking after her, her fingers itching). Oh, if you were only ten years younger! (Louka comes from the house with a salver, which she carries hanging down by her side.) Well?

      LOUKA. There’s a gentleman just called, madam — a Servian officer —

      CATHERINE (flaming). A Servian! How dare he — (Checking herself bitterly.) Oh, I forgot. We are at peace now. I suppose we shall have them calling every day to pay their compliments. Well, if he is an officer why don’t you tell your master? He is in the library with Major Saranoff. Why do you come to me?

      LOUKA. But he asks for you, madam. And I don’t think he knows who you are: he said the lady of the house. He gave me this little ticket for you. (She takes a card out of her bosom; puts it on the salver and offers it to Catherine.)

      CATHERINE (reading). “Captain Bluntschli!” That’s a German name.

      LOUKA. Swiss, madam, I think.

      CATHERINE (with a bound that makes Louka jump back). Swiss! What is he like?

      LOUKA (timidly). He has a big carpet bag, madam.

      CATHERINE. Oh, Heavens, he’s come to return the coat! Send him away — say we’re not at home — ask him to leave his address and I’ll write to him — Oh, stop: that will never do. Wait! (She throws herself into a chair to think it out. Louka waits.) The master and Major Saranoff are busy in the library, aren’t they?

      LOUKA. Yes, madam.

      CATHERINE (decisively). Bring the gentleman out here at once. (Imperatively.) And be very polite to him. Don’t delay. Here (impatiently snatching the salver from her): leave that here; and go straight back to him.

      LOUKA. Yes, madam. (Going.)

      CATHERINE. Louka!

      LOUKA (stopping). Yes, madam.

      CATHERINE. Is the library door shut?

      LOUKA. I think so, madam.

      CATHERINE. If not, shut it as you pass through.

      LOUKA. Yes, madam. (Going.)

      CATHERINE. Stop! (Louka stops.) He will have to go out that way (indicating the gate of the stable yard). Tell Nicola to bring his bag here after him. Don’t forget.

      LOUKA (surprised). His bag?

      CATHERINE. Yes, here, as soon as possible. (Vehemently.) Be quick! (Louka runs into the house. Catherine snatches her apron off and throws it behind a bush. She then takes up the salver and uses it as a mirror, with the result that the handkerchief tied round her head follows the apron. A touch to her hair and a shake to her dressing gown makes her presentable.) Oh, how — how — how can a man be such a fool! Such a moment to select! (Louka appears at the door of the house, announcing “Captain Bluntschli;” and standing aside at the top of the steps to let him pass before she goes in again. He is the man of the adventure in Raina’s room. He is now clean, well brushed, smartly uniformed, and out of trouble, but still unmistakably the same man. The moment Louka’s back is turned, Catherine swoops on him with hurried, urgent, coaxing appeal.) Captain Bluntschli, I am very glad to see you; but you must leave this house at once. (He raises his eyebrows.) My husband has just returned, with my future son-in-law; and they know nothing. If they did, the consequences would be terrible. You are a foreigner: you do not feel our national animosities as we do. We still hate the Servians: the only effect of the peace on my husband is to make him feel like a lion baulked of his prey. If he discovered our secret, he would never forgive me; and my daughter’s life would hardly be safe. Will you, like the chivalrous gentleman and soldier you are, leave at once before he finds you here?

      BLUNTSCHLI (disappointed, but philosophical). At once, gracious lady. I only came to thank you and return the coat you lent me. If you will allow me to take it out of my bag and leave it with your servant as I pass out, I need detain you no further. (He turns to go into the house.)

      CATHERINE (catching him by the sleeve). Oh, you must not think of going back that way. (Coaxing him across to the stable gates.) This is the shortest way out. Many thanks. So glad to have been of service to you. Goodbye.

      BLUNTSCHLI. But my bag?

      CATHERINE. It will be sent on. You will leave me your address.

      BLUNTSCHLI. True. Allow me. (He takes out his card-case, and stops to write his address, keeping Catherine in an agony of impatience. As he hands her the card, Petkoff, hatless, rushes from the house