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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 him； whether he likes it or not。 I know the
difference between the sort of manner you and she put on before
one another and the real manner。 （Sergius shivers as if she had
stabbed him。 Then； setting his face like iron； he strides grimly
to her； and grips her above the elbows with both bands。）
SERGIUS。 Now listen you to me！
LOUKA （wincing）。 Not so tight： you're hurting me！
SERGIUS。 That doesn't matter。 You have stained my honor by
making me a party to your eavesdropping。 And you have betrayed
your mistress
LOUKA （writhing）。 Please
SERGIUS。 That shews that you are an abominable little clod of
common clay； with the soul of a servant。 （He lets her go as if
she were an unclean thing； and turns away； dusting his hands of
her； to the bench by the wall； where he sits down with averted
head； meditating gloomily。）
LOUKA （whimpering angrily with her hands up her sleeves；
feeling her bruised arms）。 You know how to hurt with your tongue
as well as with your hands。 But I don't care； now I've found out
that whatever clay I'm made of； you're made of the same。 As for
her； she's a liar； and her fine airs are a cheat； and I'm worth
six of her。 （She shakes the pain off hardily； tosses her head；
and sets to work to put the things on the tray。 He looks
doubtfully at her once or twice。 She finishes packing the tray；
and laps the cloth over the edges； so as to carry all out
together。 As she stoops to lift it； he rises。）
SERGIUS。 Louka！ （She stops and looks defiantly at him with the
tray in her hands。） A gentleman has no right to hurt a woman
under any circumstances。 （With profound humility； uncovering his
bead。） I beg your pardon。
LOUKA。 That sort of apology may satisfy a lady。 Of what use is
it to a servant？
SERGIUS （thus rudely crossed in his chivalry； throws it off
with a bitter laugh and says slightingly）。 Oh； you wish to be
paid for the hurt？ （He puts on his shako； and takes some money
from his pocket。）
LOUKA （her eyes filling with tears in spite of herself）。 No； I
want my hurt made well。
SERGIUS （sobered by her tone）。 How？
（She rolls up her left sleeve； clasps her arm with
the thumb and fingers of her right hand； and looks
down at the bruise。 Then she raises her head and
looks straight at him。 Finally； with a superb
gesture she presents her arm to be kissed。 Amazed；
he looks at her； at the arm； at her again；
hesitates； and then； with shuddering intensity；
exclaims）
SERGIUS。 Never！ （and gets away as far as possible from her。）
（Her arm drops。 Without a word； and with unaffected
dignity； she takes her tray； 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 right。 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 （capriciouslyhalf to herself）。 I always feel a longing
to do or say something dreadful to himto shock his
proprietyto 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； madama 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
awaysay we're not at homeask him to leave his address and
I'll write to himOh； 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；
howhowhow 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。