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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。 Good…bye。
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 in a fluster of hospitality； followed by
Sergius。）
PETKOFF （as he hurries down the steps）。 My dear Captain
Bluntschli
CATHERINE。 Oh Heavens！ （She sinks on the seat against the wall。）
PETKOFF （too preoccupied to notice her as he shakes
Bluntschli's hand heartily）。 Those stupid people of mine thought
I was out here； instead of in thehaw！library。 （He cannot
mention the library without betraying how proud he is of it。） I
saw you through the window。 I was wondering why you didn't come
in。 Saranoff is with me： you remember him； don't you？
SERGIUS （saluting humorously； and then offering his hand with
great charm of manner）。 Welcome； our friend the enemy！
PETKOFF。 No longer the enemy； happily。 （Rather anxiously。） I
hope you've come as a friend； and not on business。
CATHERINE。 Oh； quite as a friend； Paul。 I was just asking
Captain Bluntschli to stay to lunch； but he declares he must go
at once。
SERCIUS （sardonically）。 Impossible； Bluntschli。 We want you
here badly。 We have to send on three cavalry regiments to
Phillipopolis； and we don't in the least know how to do it。
BLUNTSCHLI （suddenly attentive and business…like）。
Phillipopolis！ The forage is the trouble； eh？
PETKOFF （eagerly）。 Yes； that's it。 （To Sergius。） He sees the
whole thing at once。
BLUNTSCHLI。 I think I can shew you how to manage that。
SERGIUS。 Invaluable man！ Come along！ （Towering over Bluntschli；
he puts his hand on his shoulder and takes him to the steps；
Petkoff following。 As Bluntschli puts his foot on the first
step； Raina comes out of the house。）
RAINA （completely losing her presence of mind）。 Oh； the
chocolate cream soldier！
（Bluntschli stands rigid。 Sergius； amazed； looks
at Raina； then at Petkoff； who looks back at him
and then at his wife。）
CATHERINE （with commanding presence of mind）。 My dear Raina；
don't you see that we have a guest hereCaptain Bluntschli； one
of our new Servian friends？
（Raina bows； Bluntschli bows。）
RAINA。 How silly of me！ （She comes down into the centre of the
group； between Bluntschli and Petkoff） I made a beautiful
ornament this morning for the ice pudding； and that stupid
Nicola has just put down a pile of plates on it and spoiled it。
（To Bluntschli； winningly。） I hope you didn't think that you
were the chocolate cream soldier； Captain Bluntschli。
BLUNTSCHLI （laughing）。 I assure you I did。 （Stealing a
whimsical glance at her。） Your explanation was a relief。
PETKOFF （suspiciously； to Raina）。 And since when； pray； have
you taken to cooking？
CATHERINE。 Oh； whilst you were away。 It is her latest fancy。
PETKOFF （testily）。 And has Nicola taken to drinking？ He used to
be careful enough。 First he shews Captain Bluntschli out here
when he knew quite well I was in thehum！ library； and then
he goes downstairs and breaks Raina's chocolate soldier。 He
must（At this moment Nicola appears at the top of the steps R。；
with a carpet bag。 He descends； places it respectfully before
Bluntschli； and waits for further orders。 General amazement。
Nicola； unconscious of the effect he is producing； looks
perfectly satisfied with himself。 When Petkoff recovers his
power of speech； he breaks out at him with） Are you mad； Nicola？
NICOLA （taken aback）。 Sir？
PETKOFF。 What have you brought that for？
NICOLA。 My lady's orders； sir。 Louka told me that
CATHERINE （interrupting him）。 My orders！ Why should I order you
to bring Captain Bluntschli's luggage out here？ What are you
thinking of； Nicola？
NICOLA （after a moment's bewilderment； picking up the bag as he
addresses Bluntschli with the very perfection of servile
discretion）。 I beg your pardon； sir； I am sure。 （To Catherine。）
My fault； madam！ I hope you'll overlook it！ （He bows； and is
going to the steps with the bag； when Petkoff addresses him
angrily。）
PETKOFF。 You'd better go and slam that bag； too； down on Miss
Raina's ice pudding！ （This is too much for Nicola。 The bag drops
from his hands on Petkoff's corns； eliciting a roar of anguish
from him。） Begone； you butter…fingered donkey。
NICOLA （snatching up the bag； and escaping into the house）。
Yes； sir。
CATHERINE。 Oh； never mind； Paul； don't be angry！
PETKOFF （muttering）。 Scoundrel。 He's got out of hand while I
was away。 I'll teach him。 （Recollecting his guest。） Oh； well；
never mind。 Come； Bluntschli； lets have no more nonsense about
you having to go away。 You know very well you're not going back
to Switzerland yet。 Until you do go back you'll stay with us。
RAINA。 Oh； do； Captain Bluntschli。
PETKOFF （to Catherine）。 Now； Catherine； it's of you that he's
afraid。 Press him and he'll stay。
CATHERINE。 Of course I shall be only too delighted if
（appealingly） Captain Bluntschli really wishes to stay。 He knows
my wishes。
BLUNTSCHLI （in his driest military manner）。 I am at madame's
orders。
SERGIUS （cordially）。 That settles it！
PETKOFF （heartily）。 Of course！
RAINA。 You see； you must stay！
BLUNTSCHLI （smiling）。 Well； If I must； I must！
（Gesture of despair from Catherine。）
ACT III
In the library after lunch。 It is not much of a
library； its literary equipment consisting of a
single fixed shelf stocked with old paper…covered
novels； broken backed； coffee stained； torn and
thumbed； and a couple of little hanging shelves
with a few gift books on them； the rest of the
wall space being occupied by trophies of war and
the chase。 But it is a most comfortable
sitting…room。 A row of three large windows in the
front of the house shew a mountain panorama； which
is just now seen in one of its softest aspects in
the mellowing afternoon light。 In the left hand
corner； a square earthenware stove； a perfect
tower of colored pottery； rises nearly to the
ceiling and guarantees plenty of warmth。 The
ottoman in the middle is a circular bank of
decorated cushions； and the window seats are well
upholstered divans。 Little Turkish tables； one of
them with an elaborate hookah on it； and a screen
to match them； complete the handsome effect of the
furnishing。 There is one object； however； which is
hopelessly out of keeping with its surroundings。
This is a small kitchen table； much the worse for
wear； fitted as a writing table with an old
canister full of pens； an eggcup filled with ink；
and a deplorable scrap of severely used pink
blotting paper。
At the side of this table； which stands on the
right； Bluntschli is hard at work； with a couple
of maps before him； writing orders。 At the head of
it sits Sergius； who is also supposed to be at
work； but who is actually gnawing the feather of a
pen； and contemplating Bluntschli's quick； sure；
businesslike progress with a mixture of envious
irritation at his own incapacity； and awestruck
wonder at an ability which seems to him almost
miraculous； though its prosaic character forbids
him to esteem it。 The major is comfortably
established on the ottoman； with a newspaper in
his hand and the tube of the hookah within his
reach。 Catherine sits at the stove； with her back
to them； embroidering。 Raina； reclining on the
divan under the left hand window； is gazing in a
daydream out at the Balkan landscape； with a
neglected novel in her lap。
The door is on the left。 The button of the
electric bell is between the door and the
fireplace。
PETKOFF （looking up from his paper to watch how they are
getting on at the table）。 Are you sure I can't help you in any
way； Bluntschli？
BLUNTSCHLI （without interrupting his writing or looking up）。
Quite sure； thank you。 Saranoff and I will manage it。
SERGIUS （grimly）。 Yes： we'll manage it。 He finds out what to
do； draws up the orders； and I sign 'em。 Division of labour；
Major。 （Bluntschli passes him a p