Marq. de Poiv. But my house in town?
Count R. But my house in the country?
Marq. de Poiv. But my wife's diamond bracelet?
Baron Raff. Gentlemen, impossible! The old regime in Russia is dead; the funeral begins to-day.
Count R. Then I shall wait for the resurrection.
Prince Petro. Yes, but, en attendant, what are we to do?
Baron Raff. What have we always done in Russia when a Czar suggests reforms?—nothing. You forget we are diplomatists. Men of thought should have nothing to do with action. Reforms in Russia are very tragic, but they always end in a farce.
Count R. I wish Prince Paul were here. [3]By the bye, I think this boy is rather ungrateful to him. If that clever old Prince had not proclaimed him Emperor at once without giving him time to think about it, he would have given up his crown, I believe, to the first cobbler he met in the street.
Prince Petro. But do you think, Baron, that Prince Paul is really going?[3]
Baron Raff. He is exiled.