Prince Petro. He is beginning well, this young Czar.
Baron Raff (shrugs his shoulders). All young Czars do begin well.
Count R. And end badly.
[1]Marq. de Poiv. Well, I have no right to complain. He has done me one good service, at any rate.
Prince Petro. Cancelled your appointment to Archangel, I suppose?
Marq. de Poiv. Yes; my head wouldn't have been safe there for an hour.[1]
(Enter General Kotemkin.)
Baron Raff. Ah! General, any more news of our romantic Emperor?
Gen. Kotemk. You are quite right to call him romantic, Baron; a week ago I found him amusing himself in a garret with a company of strolling players; to-day his whim is all the convicts in Siberia are to be recalled, and political prisoners, as he calls them, amnestied.
Prince Petro. Political prisoners! Why, half of them are no better than common murderers!