You might have given him a little encouragement, Alexis.
BARON Silence, Katusha. I only tolerated the man in Europe because he was a link with Vera.
BARONESS You accepted his yacht and his----
BARON If I had known his loose views on divorce----
BARONESS I am sick of your scruples. You are ze only poor official in Bessarabia.
BARON Be silent! Have I not forbidden----?
BARONESS [_Petulantly_]
Forbidden! Forbidden! All your life you have served ze Tsar, and you cannot afford a single automobile. A millionaire son-in-law is just vat you owe me.
BARON What I owe you?
BARONESS Yes, ven I married you, I vas tinking you had a good position. I did not know you were too honest to use it. You vere not open viz me, Alexis.
BARON You knew I was a Revendal. The Revendals keep their hands clean....
[_With a sudden start he tiptoes noiselessly to the door leading to the hall and throws it open. n.o.body is visible. He closes it shamefacedly._]
BARONESS [_Has shared his nervousness till the door was opened, but now bursts into mocking laughter_]
If you thought less about your precious safety, and more about me and Vera----
BARON Hush! You do not know Vera. You saw I was even afraid to give my name.
She might have sent me away as she sent away the Tsar"s plate of mutton.
BARONESS The Tsar"s plate of----?
BARON Did I never tell you? When she was only a school-girl--at the Imperial High School--the Tsar on his annual visit tasted the food, and Vera, as the show pupil, was given the honour of finishing his Majesty"s plate.
BARONESS [_In incredulous horror_]
And she sent it avay?
BARON Gave it to a servant.
[_Awed silence._]
And then you think I can impose a husband on her. No, Katusha, I have to win her love for myself, not for millionaires.
BARONESS [_Angry again_]
Alvays so affrightfully selfish!
BARON I have no control over her, I tell you!
[_Bitterly_]
I never could control my womenkind.
BARONESS Because you zink zey are your soldiers. Silence! Halt! Forbidden! Right Veel! March!
BARON [_Sullenly_]
I wish I did think they were my soldiers--I might try the lash.
BARONESS [_Springing up angrily, shakes parasol at him_]
You British barbarian!
VERA [_Outside the door leading to the interior_]
Yes, thank you, Miss Andrews. I know I have visitors.
BARON [_Ecstatically_]
Vera"s voice!
[_The BARONESS lowers her parasol. He looks yearningly toward the door. It opens. Enter VERA with inquiring gaze._]
VERA [_With a great shock of surprise_]
Father!!
BARON _Verotschka!_ My dearest darling!...
[_He makes a movement toward her, but is checked by her irresponsiveness._]
Why, you"ve grown more beautiful than ever.
VERA You in New York!
BARON The Baroness wished to see America. Katusha, this is my daughter.
BARONESS [_In sugared sweetness_]
And mine, too, if she vill let me love her.
VERA [_Bowing coldly, but still addressing her father_]
But how? When?
BARON We have just come and----
BARONESS [_Dashing in_]
Zat charming young man lent us his yacht--he is adorahble.
VERA What charming young man?
BARONESS Ah, she has many, ze little coquette--ha! ha! ha!
[_She touches VERA playfully with her parasol._]
BARON We wished to give you a pleasant surprise.
VERA It is certainly a surprise.
BARON [_Chilled_]
You are not very ... daughterly.
VERA Do you remember when you last saw me? You did not claim me as a daughter then.
BARON [_Covers his eyes with his hand_]
Do not recall it; it hurts too much.