I am an
Englishman; and you can kidnap me; but you can't bully me.
NARYSHKIN. Remember to whom you are speaking.
CATHERINE [violently, furious at his intrusion]. Remember that
dogs should be dumb. [He shrivels.] And do you, Captain, remember
that famous as I am for my clemency, there are limits to the
patience even of an Empress.
EDSTASTON. How is a man to remember anything when he is trussed
up in this ridiculous fashion? I can hardly breathe. [He makes a
futile struggle to free himself.] Here: don't be unkind, your
Majesty: tell these fellows to unstrap me. You know you really
owe me an apology.
CATHERINE. You think you can escape by appealing, like Prince
Patiomkin, to my sense of humor?
EDSTASTON. Sense of humor! Ho! Ha, ha! I like that. Would anybody
with a sense of humor make a guy of a man like this, and then
expect him to take it seriously? I say: do tell them to loosen
these straps.
CATHERINE [seating herself]. Why should I, pray?
EDSTASTON. Why! Why! Why, because they're hurting me.
CATHERINE. People sometimes learn through suffering. Manners, for
instance.
EDSTASTON. Oh, well, of course, if you're an ill-natured woman,
hurting me on purpose, I have nothing more to say.
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