)
LADY (wistfully). You are very hard. Men and women are nothing to
you but things to be used, even if they are broken in the use.
NAPOLEON (turning on her). Which of us has broken this fellow--I
or you? Who tricked him out of the despatches? Did you think of
his career then?
LADY (naively concerned about him). Oh, I never thought of that.
It was brutal of me; but I couldn't help it, could I? How else
could I have got the papers? (Supplicating.) General: you will
save him from disgrace.
NAPOLEON (laughing sourly). Save him yourself, since you are so
clever: it was you who ruined him. (With savage intensity.) I
HATE a bad soldier.
He goes out determinedly through the vineyard. She follows him a
few steps with an appealing gesture, but is interrupted by the
return of the lieutenant, gloved and capped, with his sword on,
ready for the road. He is crossing to the outer door when she
intercepts him.
LADY. Lieutenant.
LIEUTENANT (importantly). You mustn't delay me, you know. Duty,
madame, duty.
LADY (imploringly). Oh, sir, what are you going to do to my poor
brother?
LIEUTENANT.
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