Pres. Brothers, the questions have been answered well. There are none but Nihilists present. Let us see each other's faces. (The Conspirators unmask.) Michael, recite the oath.
Michael. To strangle whatever nature is in us; neither to love nor to be loved, neither to pity nor to be pitied, neither to marry nor to be given in marriage, till the end is come; to stab secretly by night; to drop poison in the glass; to set father against son, and husband against wife; without fear, without hope, without future, to suffer, to annihilate, to revenge.
Pres. Are we all agreed?
Conspirators. We are all agreed. (They disperse in various directions about the stage.)
Pres. 'Tis after the hour, Michael, and she is not yet here.
Mich. Would that she were! We can do little without her.
Alexis. She cannot have been seized, President? but the police are on her track, I know.
Mich. You always seem to know a good deal about the movements of the police in Moscow—too much for an honest conspirator.
Pres. If those dogs have caught her, [3]the red flag of the people will float on a barricade in[3] every street till we find her! It was foolish of her to go to the Grand Duke's ball. I told her so, but she said she wanted to see the Czar and all his cursed brood face to face once.
Alexis. Gone to the State ball?