GENDARME OFFICER. Well, I think I may stop. I consider that you are not dangerous, and not within our jurisdiction. I wish you a speedy release.
Good-day. [Presses Boris"s hand].
BORiS. One thing I should like to say to you. Forgive me, but I can"t help saying it. Why have you chosen this wicked, cruel profession? I should advise you to give it up.
GENDARME OFFICER [smiles] Thank you for your advice, but I have my reasons. My respects to you. [To Priest] Father, I relinquish my place to you [Exit with Clerk].
PRIEST. How can you so grieve the authorities by refusing to fulfil the duty of a Christian, to serve the Tsar and your Fatherland?
BORiS [smiling] Just because I want to fulfil my duty as a Christian, I do not wish to be a soldier.
PRIEST. Why don"t you wish it? It is said that, "To lay down one"s life for a friend" is to be a true Christian....
BORiS. Yes, to "lay down one"s life," but not to take another man"s.
That is just what I want to do, to "lay down my life."
PRIEST. You do not reason rightly, young man. John the Baptist said to the soldiers ...
BORiS [smiling] That only goes to prove that even in those days the soldiers used to rob, and he told them not to!
PRIEST. Well, but why don"t you wish to take your oath?
BORiS. You know that the Gospels forbid it!
PRIEST. Not at all. You know that when Pilate said: "I adjure thee by the living G.o.d, art thou the Christ?" the Lord Jesus Christ answered "I am." That proves that oaths are not forbidden.
BORiS. Are not you ashamed to talk so? You--an old man.
PRIEST. Take my advice and don"t be obstinate. You and I cannot change the world. Just take your oath and you"ll be at ease. Leave it to the Church to know what is a sin and what is not.
BORiS. Leave it to you? Are you not afraid to take so much sin upon yourself?
PRIEST. What sin? Having been brought up firmly in the faith, and having worked as a priest for thirty years, I can have no sins on my shoulders.
BORiS. Whose then is the sin, when you deceive such numbers of people?
What have these poor fellows got in their heads? [Points to Sentinel].
PRIEST. You and I, young man, will never settle that. It is for us to obey those placed above us.
BORiS. Leave me alone! I am sorry for you and--I confess--it disgusts me to listen to you. Now if you were like that General--but you come here with a cross and the Testament to persuade me in the name of Christ, to deny Christ! Go [excitedly]. Leave me--Go. Let me be taken back to the cell that I may not see anyone. I am tired, dreadfully tired!
PRIEST. Well, if that is so, good-bye.
Enter Adjutant.
ADJUTANT. Well?
PRIEST. Great obstinacy, great insubordination.
ADJUTANT. So he has refused to take the oath and to serve?
PRIEST. On no account will he.
ADJUTANT. Then he must be taken to the hospital.
PRIEST. And reported as ill? That no doubt would be better, or his example may lead others astray.
ADJUTANT. To be put under observation in the ward for the mentally diseased. Those are my orders.
PRIEST. Certainly. My respects to you. [Exit].
ADJUTANT [approaches Boris] Come, please. My orders are to conduct you----
BORiS. Where to?
ADJUTANT. First of all to the hospital, where it will be quieter for you, and where you will have time to think things over.
BORiS. I"ve thought them over long ago. But let us go! [Exeunt].
Curtain.
SCENE 3
Room in Hospital. Head Doctor, a.s.sistant Doctor, an Officer-Patient in a dressing-gown, and two Warders wearing blouses.
PATIENT. I tell you that you are only leading me to perdition. I have already several times felt quite well.
HEAD DOCTOR. You must not get excited. I should be glad to sign an order for you to leave the hospital, but you know yourself that liberty is dangerous for you. If I were sure that you would be looked after ...
PATIENT. You think I should take to drink again? No, I have had my lesson, but every extra day I spend here only does me harm. You are doing [gets excited] the opposite of what you ought to do. You are cruel. It"s all very well for _you_!
HEAD DOCTOR. Don"t get excited. [Makes a sign to Warders; who come up from behind].
PATIENT. It"s easy for you to argue, being at liberty; but how about us who are kept among madmen! [To Warders] What are you after? Be off!
HEAD DOCTOR. I beg of you to be calm.
PATIENT. But I beg and I demand that you set me free. [Yells, and rushes at the Doctor, but the Warders seize him. A struggle; after which he is taken out].
a.s.sISTANT DOCTOR. There! Now it has begun again. He nearly got at you that time.
HEAD DOCTOR. Alcoholic ... nothing can be done. But there is some improvement.
Enter Adjutant.
ADJUTANT. How d"you do.