I know that smile too well.

PRINCE PAUL:

From the Chief of the Police at Archangel, Sire. `The Governor of the province was shot this morning by a woman as he was entering the courtyard of his own house. The assassin has been seized.'

CZAR:

I never trusted the people in Archangel. It's a nest of Nihilists and conspirators. Take away their saints; they don't deserve them.

PRINCE PAUL:

Your Highness would punish them more severely by giving them an extra one. Three governors shot in two months! [(Smiles to himself.)] Sire, permit me to recommend your loyal subject, the Marquis de Poivrard, as the new governor of your Province of Archangel.

MARQUIS DE POIVRARD:

[(hurriedly)] Sire, I am unfit for this post.

PRINCE PAUL:

Marquis, you are too modest. Believe me, there is no man in Russia I would sooner see Governor of Archangel than yourself. [( Whispers to CZAR.)]

CZAR:

Quite right, Prince Paul; you are always right. See that the Marquis's letters are made out at once.

PRINCE PAUL:

He can start to-night, Sire. I shall really miss you very much, Marquis. I always liked your taste in wine and wives extremely.

MARQUIS DE POIVRARD:

[(to the CZAR)] Start to-night, Sire?

(PRINCE PAUL whispers to the CZAR.)

CZAR:

Yes, Marquis, to-night; it is better to go at once.

PRINCE PAUL:

I shall see that Madame la Marquise is not too lonely while you are away; so you need not be alarmed for her.

COUNT ROUVALOFF:

[(to PRINCE PETROVITCH)] I should be more alarmed for myself.

CZAR:

The Governor of Archangel shot in his own courtyard by a woman! I'm not safe here. I'm not safe anywhere, with that she-devil of the revolution, Vera Sabouroff, here in Moscow. Prince Paul, is that woman still here?

PRINCE PAUL:

They tell me she was at the Grand Duke's ball last night. I can hardly believe that, but she certainly had intended to leave for Novgorod to-day, Sire. The police were watching every train for her; but, for some reason or other, she did not go. Some traitor must have warned her. But I shall catch her yet. A chase after a beautiful woman is always exciting.

CZAR:

You must hunt her down with bloodhounds, and when she is taken I shall hew her limb from limb. I shall stretch her on the rack till her pale white body is twisted and curled like paper in the fire.

PRINCE PAUL:

Oh, we shall have another hunt immediately, for her, Sire! Prince Alexis will assist us, I am sure.

CZAREVITCH:

You never require any assistance to ruin a woman, Prince Paul.

CZAR:

Vera, the Nihilist, in Moscow! O God, were it not better to die at once the dog's death they plot for me than to live as I live now! Never to sleep, or, if I do, to dream such horrid dreams that hell itself were peace when matched with them.