Karp. If I tell you to hold your tongue, that’s enough. (Silence.)
Oulìta. When was that battle fought?
Karp. What battle?
Oulìta. Why, lately, you know. Don’t you remember?
Karp. And what about it?
Oulìta. Such a lot of common soldiers got made into officers.
Karp. Why not? They weren’t women. Everybody gets a fair reward for his services.
Oulìta. But, do you know, there’s a pedlar woman that comes here; and she says that, when her nephew passes his examination, she’ll be made a noble too.
Karp. When the sky rains potatoes!
Oulìta. But they say there are countries where they have women for soldiers.