Prince Paul (shrugging his shoulders). Heaven is a despotism. I shall be at home there.
Czare. Do you never think of the people and their rights?
Prince Paul. The people and their rights bore me. I am sick of both. In these modern days to be vulgar, illiterate, common and vicious, seems to give a man a marvellous infinity of rights that his honest fathers never dreamed of. Believe me, Prince, in good democracy every man should be an aristocrat; but these people in Russia who seek to thrust us out are no better than the animals in one's preserves, and made to be shot at, most of them.
Czare. (excitedly). If they are[10] common, illiterate, vulgar, no better than the beasts of the field, who made them so?
(Enter Aide-de-Camp.)
Aide-de-Camp. His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor! (Prince Paul looks at the Czarevitch, and smiles.)
(Enter the Czar, surrounded by his guard.)
Czare. (rushing forward to meet him). Sire!
Czar (nervous and frightened). Don't come too near me, boy! Don't come too near me, I say! There is always something about an heir to a crown unwholesome to his father. Who is that man over there? I don't know him. What is he doing? Is he a conspirator? Have you searched him? Give him till to-morrow to confess, then hang him!—hang him!
Prince Paul. Sire, you are anticipating history. This is Count Petouchof, your new ambassador to Berlin. He is come to kiss hands on his appointment.