Are you very fond of him?
LADY. I should die if anything happened to him. You must spare
him. (The lieutenant shakes his head gloomily.) Yes, yes: you
must: you shall: he is not fit to die. Listen to me. If I tell
you where to find him--if I undertake to place him in your hands
a prisoner, to be delivered up by you to General Bonaparte--will
you promise me on your honor as an officer and a gentleman not to
fight with him or treat him unkindly in any way?
LIEUTENANT. But suppose he attacks me. He has my pistols.
LADY. He is too great a coward.
LIEUTENANT. I don't feel so sure about that. He's capable of
anything.
LADY. If he attacks you, or resists you in any way, I release you
from your promise.
LIEUTENANT. My promise! I didn't mean to promise. Look here:
you're as bad as he is: you've taken an advantage of me through
the better side of my nature. What about my horse?
LADY. It is part of the bargain that you are to have your
horse and pistols back.
LIEUTENANT. Honor bright?
LADY. Honor bright. (She offers her hand.)
LIEUTENANT (taking it and holding it). All right: I'll be as
gentle as a lamb with him.
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