登陆注册
14727100000013

第13章

CLAIRE [stopping dead in the act of unbuckling the straps and turning sick with jealousy as she grasps the situation]. Was THATwhat I thought was your being tortured?

CATHERINE [urbanely]. That is the favorite torture of Catherine the Second, Mademoiselle. I think the Captain enjoys it very much.

CLAIRE. Then he can have as much more of it as he wants. I am sorry I intruded. [She rises to go.]

EDSTASTON [catching her train in his teeth and holding on like a bull-dog]. Don't go. Don't leave me in this horrible state.

Loosen me. [This is what he is saying: but as he says it with the train in his mouth it is not very intelligible.]

CLAIRE. Let go. You are undignified and ridiculous enough yourself without making me ridiculous. [She snatches her train away.]

EDSTASTON. Ow! You've nearly pulled my teeth out: you're worse than the Star of the North. [To Catherine.] Darling Little Mother: you have a kind heart, the kindest in Europe. Have pity.

Have mercy. I love you. [Claire bursts into tears.] Release me.

CATHERINE. Well, just to show you how much kinder a Russian savage can be than an English one {though I am sorry to say I am a German) here goes! [She stoops to loosen the straps.]

CLAIRE [jealously]. You needn't trouble, thank you. [She pounces on the straps: and the two set Edstaston free between them.] Now get up, please; and conduct yourself with some dignity if you are not utterly demoralized.

EDSTASTON. Dignity! Ow! I can't. I'm stiff all over. I shall never be able to stand up again. Oh Lord! how it hurts! [They seize him by the shoulders and drag him up.] Yah! Agh! Wow! Oh!

Mmmmmm! Oh, Little Angel Mother, don't ever do this to a man again. Knout him; kill him; roast him; baste him; head, hang, and quarter him; but don't tie him up like that and tickle him.

CATHERINE. Your young lady still seems to think that you enjoyed it.

CLAIRE. I know what I think. I will never speak to him again.

Your Majesty can keep him, as far as I am concerned.

CATHERINE. I would not deprive you of him for worlds; though really I think he's rather a darling [she pats his cheek].

CLAIRE [snorting]. So I see, indeed.

EDSTASTON. Don't be angry, dearest: in this country everybody's a darling. I'll prove it to you. [To Catherine.] Will your Majesty be good enough to call Prince Patiomkin?

CATHERINE [surprised into haughtiness]. Why?

EDSTASTON. To oblige me.

Catherine laughs good-humoredly and goes to the curtains and opens them. The band strikes up a Redowa.

CATHERINE [calling imperiously]. Patiomkin! [The music stops suddenly.] Here! To me! Go on with your music there, you fools.

[The Redowa is resumed.]

The sergeant rushes from the ballroom to relieve the Empress of the curtain. Patiomkin comes in dancing with Yarinka.

CATHERINE [to Patiomkin]. The English captain wants you, little darling.

Catherine resumes her seat as Patiomkin intimates by a grotesque bow that he is at Edstaston's service. Yarinka passes behind Edstaston and Claire, and posts herself on Claire's right.

EDSTASTON. Precisely. [To Claire. ] You observe, my love: "little darling." Well, if her Majesty calls him a darling, is it my fault that she calls me one too?

CLAIRE. I don't care: I don't think you ought to have done it. Iam very angry and offended.

EDSTASTON. They tied me up, dear. I couldn't help it. I fought for all I was worth.

THE SERGEANT [at the curtains]. He fought with the strength of lions and bears. God knows I shall carry a broken sweetbread to my grave.

EDSTASTON. You can't mean to throw me over, Claire. [Urgently.]

Claire. Claire.

VARINKA [in a transport of sympathetic emotion, pleading with clasped hands to Claire]. Oh, sweet little angel lamb, he loves you: it shines in his darling eyes. Pardon him, pardon him.

PATIOMKIN [rushing from the Empress's side to Claire and falling on his knees to her]. Pardon him, pardon him, little cherub!

little wild duck! little star! little glory! little jewel in the crown of heaven!

CLAIRE. This is perfectly ridiculous.

VARINKA [kneeling to her]. Pardon him, pardon him, little delight, little sleeper in a rosy cradle.

CLAIRE. I'll do anything if you'll only let me alone.

THE SERGEANT [kneeling to her]. Pardon him, pardon him, lest the mighty man bring his whip to you. God knows we all need pardon!

CLAIRE [at the top of her voice]. I pardon him! I pardon him!

PATIOMKIN [springing up joyfully and going behind Claire, whom he raises in his arms]. Embrace her, victor of Bunker's Hill. Kiss her till she swoons.

THE SERGEANT. Receive her in the name of the holy Nicholas.

VARINKA. She begs you for a thousand dear little kisses all over her body.

CLAIRE [vehemently]. I do not. [Patiomkin throws her into Edstaston's arms.] Oh! [The pair, awkward and shamefaced, recoil from one another, and remain utterly inexpressive.]

CATHERINE [pushing Edstaston towards Claire]. There is no help for it, Captain. This is Russia, not England.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • EXO之霸气女遇上高冷逗必男

    EXO之霸气女遇上高冷逗必男

    女主叶雨茶。男主吴世勋,男二边伯贤他们会产生怎么样的剧情呢
  • 生命之辰

    生命之辰

    在无尽的天穹深处,有一颗大星,圆围三百六十五万里,曰生命之辰。此星先天地而生,同岁月而诞,不困界域之力,不束天道之则,浪荡流离无数世界,羁旅漂泊无尽光阴。星辰有口,饮浩瀚虚空,吞日月星辰,曰无尽死渊。其渊横纵五十万里,每逢十二万九千六百年开启一次,吞饮进食,之后再次陷入沉睡。故此,寄居在大星之上的生命,以十二万九千六百年为一纪元,开创出一个又一个辉煌灿烂的文明,书写下一篇又一篇千奇百态的故事……
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 嘲风学院

    嘲风学院

    我叫江雨,好读诗书,偶尔修炼,也有时候和东华大帝切磋切磋。东华自恋,江雨自负,所以江湖上送了我们个外号“东华西雨”,可气又可笑的是他就叫东华而我不叫西雨。其实我喜欢东方,可我却生在了西方,也许是造化弄人吧。我建议东华:我们把华和雨换一下,叫‘东雨西华’好不好?他说:不好不好,你这听起来就像是‘稀里哗啦’。我说:你上次就是这么说了。他说:哦?我下次换句台词。无论多少个下次,他总是这么说。直到后来,我再也没有机会问他。
  • 九天神坛

    九天神坛

    天地之初,神坛降造化醒世人。荒古之后神坛消失,但是世人都相信神坛就存在于天地之间,得神坛可长生,可无敌天下。绝世天才江天惨遭陷害,爱人,兄弟,朋友尽皆遭害,他也身中奇毒,无奈之下他进入天雪界寻求天雪冰炎想要点燃己身,成就神火强者,报血海深仇。可是在天雪界却发生了莫名的变化,他在点燃神火的过程中莫名沉睡,天雪界崩塌。千年之后,于大雪山第八座雪峰下走出一个人,他自称江宁。
  • 后羿归来

    后羿归来

    “夏商与西周,东周分两段,春秋和战国,一统秦两汉。”黄帝乘龙,炎帝尝草,后羿射日,仓颉造字,……这些传说,历史真相究竟如何?这一年,有黑洞濒临太阳系,海平面迅速上升。这一年,大量野生动物发生变异,袭击人类。这一年,有人发现自家不入流的武术,居然真的练出了内劲。五年后,夏羽突然觉醒前世记忆,他,居然是传说中射落九只金乌的箭神后羿。上古历史,开始掀起她神秘的面纱。(新书上传,求收藏,求推荐,求支持。)
  • 落叶残花

    落叶残花

    世间怎会有如此巧合的事情?最终只是因为缘分,初次相逢已注定一生的纠葛。“因为我想你睁眼看到的第一个画面就是我们相遇的桃林。”一直用心呵护的那个人不知可曾对自己动过情。用自己温热的鲜血染红了那片残花,最终留下的只是那冰剑穿心。“墨谋不曾为谁流过一滴泪。”那个人的每一点付出都刻骨铭记在心。可为何天作弄人,他偏偏就是那个必须得除掉的人。最终给他留下的那无法愈合伤口。他们死里逃生最终看见蓝天挂上了耀眼的太阳时突如其来的消息让他们不得不拿剑相向。不怕与你反目成仇只怕山水不再相逢。
  • 终将别离

    终将别离

    这是个简短的故事,献给每个爱过的女孩,也献给每个正获得幸福的女孩:顾晓菲18岁那年遇见了那个叫党辉的男人,19岁爱上他,20岁被迫离开他。不忍别离,又终将别离。最后,她愿天下有情人,终成眷属。
  • 东回纪

    东回纪

    那年西游,今日东回。标签上主角设定是老师,因为主角是玄奘。轻松是因为我写的很随意,诸位看官也随意。
  • 回味唐朝

    回味唐朝

    此书看后莫喷,实在忍不住大神允许你们喷几句。