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a thorough soldier； he ran away like the rest of them； with our
cavalry at his heels。 To escape their attentions； he had the
good taste to take refuge in the chamber of some patriotic young
Bulgarian lady。 The young lady was enchanted by his persuasive
commercial traveller's manners。 She very modestly entertained
him for an hour or so and then called in her mother lest her
conduct should appear unmaidenly。 The old lady was equally
fascinated； and the fugitive was sent on his way in the morning；
disguised in an old coat belonging to the master of the house；
who was away at the war。
RAINA （rising with marked stateliness）。 Your life in the camp
has made you coarse； Sergius。 I did not think you would have
repeated such a story before me。 （She turns away coldly。）
CATHERINE （also rising）。 She is right； Sergius。 If such women
exist； we should be spared the knowledge of them。
PETKOFF。 Pooh！ nonsense！ what does it matter？
SERGIUS （ashamed）。 No； Petkoff： I was wrong。 （To Raina； with
earnest humility。） I beg your pardon。 I have behaved abominably。
Forgive me； Raina。 （She bows reservedly。） And you； too； madam。
（Catherine bows graciously and sits down。 He proceeds solemnly；
again addressing Raina。） The glimpses I have had of the seamy
side of life during the last few months have made me cynical；
but I should not have brought my cynicism hereleast of all
into your presence； Raina。 I（Here； turning to the others； he
is evidently about to begin a long speech when the Major
interrupts him。）
PETKOFF。 Stuff and nonsense； Sergius。 That's quite enough fuss
about nothing： a soldier's daughter should be able to stand up
without flinching to a little strong conversation。 （He rises。）
Come： it's time for us to get to business。 We have to make up
our minds how those three regiments are to get back to
Phillipopolis：there's no forage for them on the Sophia route。
（He goes towards the house。） Come along。 （Sergius is about to
follow him when Catherine rises and intervenes。）
CATHERINE。 Oh； Paul； can't you spare Sergius for a few moments？
Raina has hardly seen him yet。 Perhaps I can help you to settle
about the regiments。
SERGIUS （protesting）。 My dear madam； impossible： you
CATHERINE （stopping him playfully）。 You stay here； my dear
Sergius： there's no hurry。 I have a word or two to say to Paul。
（Sergius instantly bows and steps back。） Now； dear （taking
Petkoff's arm）； come and see the electric bell。
PETKOFF。 Oh； very well； very well。 （They go into the house
together affectionately。 Sergius； left alone with Raina； looks
anxiously at her； fearing that she may be still offended。 She
smiles； and stretches out her arms to him。）
（Exit R。 into house； followed by Catherine。）
SERGIUS （hastening to her； but refraining from touching her
without express permission）。 Am I forgiven？
RAINA （placing her hands on his shoulder as she looks up at him
with admiration and worship）。 My hero！ My king。
SERGIUS。 My queen！ （He kisses her on the forehead with holy
awe。）
RAINA。 How I have envied you； Sergius！ You have been out in the
world； on the field of battle； able to prove yourself there
worthy of any woman in the world； whilst I have had to sit at
home inactive；dreaminguselessdoing nothing that could
give me the right to call myself worthy of any man。
SERGIUS。 Dearest； all my deeds have been yours。 You inspired me。
I have gone through the war like a knight in a tournament with
his lady looking on at him！
RAINA。 And you have never been absent from my thoughts for a
moment。 （Very solemnly。） Sergius： I think we two have found the
higher love。 When I think of you； I feel that I could never do a
base deed； or think an ignoble thought。
SERGIUS。 My lady； and my saint！ （Clasping her reverently。）
RAINA （returning his embrace）。 My lord and my g
SERGIUS。 Shsh！ Let me be the worshipper； dear。 You little know
how unworthy even the best man is of a girl's pure passion！
RAINA。 I trust you。 I love you。 You will never disappoint me；
Sergius。 （Louka is heard singing within the house。 They quickly
release each other。） Hush！ I can't pretend to talk indifferently
before her： my heart is too full。 （Louka comes from the house
with her tray。 She goes to the table； and begins to clear it；
with her back turned to them。） I will go and get my hat； and
then we can go out until lunch time。 Wouldn't you like that？
SERGIUS。 Be quick。 If you are away five minutes； it will seem
five hours。 （Raina runs to the top of the steps and turns there
to exchange a look with him and wave him a kiss with both hands。
He looks after her with emotion for a moment； then turns slowly
away； his face radiant with the exultation of the scene which
has just passed。 The movement shifts his field of vision； into
the corner of which there now comes the tail of Louka's double
apron。 His eye gleams at once。 He takes a stealthy look at her；
and begins to twirl his moustache nervously； with his left hand
akimbo on his hip。 Finally； striking the ground with his heels
in something of a cavalry swagger； he strolls over to the left
of the table； opposite her； and says） Louka： do you know what
the higher love is？
LOUKA （astonished）。 No； sir。
SERGIUS。 Very fatiguing thing to keep up for any length of time；
Louka。 One feels the need of some relief after it。
LOUKA （innocently）。 Perhaps you would like some coffee； sir？
（She stretches her hand across the table for the coffee pot。）
SERGIUS （taking her hand）。 Thank you； Louka。
LOUKA （pretending to pull）。 Oh； sir； you know I didn't mean
that。 I'm surprised at you！
SERGIUS （coming clear of the table and drawing her with him）。 I
am surprised at myself； Louka。 What would Sergius； the hero of
Slivnitza； say if he saw me now？ What would Sergius； the apostle
of the higher love； say if he saw me now？ What would the half
dozen Sergiuses who keep popping in and out of this handsome
figure of mine say if they caught us here？ （Letting go her hand
and slipping his arm dexterously round her waist。） Do you
consider my figure handsome； Louka？
LOUKA。 Let me go； sir。 I shall be disgraced。 （She struggles： he
holds her inexorably。） Oh； will you let go？
SERGIUS （looking straight into her eyes）。 No。
LOUKA。 Then stand back where we can't be seen。 Have you no
common sense？
SERGIUS。 Ah； that's reasonable。 （He takes her into the
stableyard gateway； where they are hidden from the house。）
LOUKA （complaining）。 I may have been seen from the windows：
Miss Raina is sure to be spying about after you。
SERGIUS （stungletting her go）。 Take care； Louka。 I may be
worthless enough to betray the higher love； but do not you
insult it。
LOUKA （demurely）。 Not for the world； sir； I'm sure。 May I go on
with my work please； now？
SERGIUS （again putting his arm round her）。 You are a provoking
little witch； Louka。 If you were in love with me； would you spy
out of windows on me？
LOUKA。 Well； you see； sir； since you say you are half a dozen
different gentlemen all at once； I should have a great deal to
look after。
SERGIUS （charmed）。 Witty as well as pretty。 （He tries to kiss
her。）
LOUKA （avoiding him）。 No； I don't want your kisses。 Gentlefolk
are all alikeyou making love to me behind Miss Raina's back；
and she doing the same behind yours。
SERGIUS （recoiling a step）。 Louka！
LOUKA。 It shews how little you really care！
SERGIUS （dropping his familiarity and speaking with freezing
politeness）。 If our conversation is to continue； Louka； you will
please remember that a gentleman does not discuss the conduct of
the lady he is engaged to with her maid。
LOUKA。 It's so hard to know what a gentleman considers right。 I
thought from your trying to kiss me that you had given up being
so particular。
SERGIUS （turning from her and striking his forehead as be comes
back into the garden from the gateway）。 Devil！ devil！
LOUKA。 Ha！ ha！ I expect one of the six of you is very like me；
sir； though I am only Miss Raina's maid。 （She goes back to her
work at the table； taking no further notice of him。）
SERGIUS （speaking to himself）。 Which of the six is the real
man？that's the question that torments me。 One of them is a
hero； another a buffoon； another a humbug； another perhaps a
bit of a blackguard。 （He pauses and looks furtively at Louka； as
he adds with deep bitterness） And one； at least； is a
cowardjealous； like all cowards。 （He goes to the table。）
Louka。
LOUKA。 Yes？
SERGIUS。 Who is my rival？
LOUKA。 You shall never get that out of me； for love or money。
SERGIUS。 Why？
LOUKA。 Never mind why。 Besides； you would tell that I told you；
and I should lose my place。
SERGIUS （holding out his right hand in affirmation）。 No； on the
honor of a（He checks himself； and his hand drops nerveless as
he concludes； sardonically）of a man capable of behaving as I
have been behaving for the last five minutes。 Who is he？
LOUKA。 I don't know。 I never saw him。 I only heard his voice
through the door of her room。
SERGIUS。 Damnation！ How dare you？
LOUKA （retreating）。 Oh； I mean no harm： you've no right to take
up my words like that。 The mistress knows all about it。 And I
tell you that if that gentleman ever comes here again； Miss
Raina will marry