LIEUTENANT. Why not?
GIUSEPPE. In this wicked world a general may send for a
lieutenant; but a lieutenant must not send for a general.
LIEUTENANT. Oh, you think he wouldn't like it. Well, perhaps
you're right: one has to be awfully particular about that sort of
thing now we've got a republic.
Napoleon reappears, advancing from the vineyard, buttoning the
breast of his coat, pale and full of gnawing thoughts.
GIUSEPPE (unconscious of Napoleon's approach). Quite true,
Lieutenant, quite true. You are all like innkeepers now in
France: you have to be polite to everybody.
NAPOLEON (putting his hand on Giuseppe's shoulder). And that
destroys the whole value of politeness, eh?
LIEUTENANT. The very man I wanted! See here, General: suppose I
catch that fellow for you!
NAPOLEON (with ironical gravity). You will not catch him, my
friend.
LIEUTENANT. Aha! you think so; but you'll see. Just wait. Only,
if I do catch him and hand him over to you, will you cry quits?
Will you drop all this about degrading me in the presence of my
regiment? Not that I mind, you know; but still no regiment likes
to have all the other regiments laughing at it.
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