: same and business as Act I. Man in yellow dress, with drawn sword, at the door. Password outside. Væ tyrannis. Answer. Væ victis (repeated three times). Enter , who form a semicircle, masked and cloaked.
: What hour is it? : The hour to strike. : What day? : The day of Marat. : In what month? : The months of liberty. : What is our duty? : To obey. : Our creed? : Parbleu, Monsieur le President, I never knew you had one. : A spy! A spy! Unmask! Unmask! A spy! : Let the doors be shut. There are others but Nihilists present. : Unmask! Unmask! Kill him! kill him! (Masked Conspirator unmasks.) Prince Paul! : Devil! Who lured you into the lion's den? : Kill him! Kill him! : En vérité, Messieurs, you are not over-hospitable in your welcome. : Welcome! What welcome should we give you but the dagger or the noose? : I had no idea really that the Nihilists were so exclusive. Let me assure you that if I had not always had an entrée to the very best society, and the very worst conspiracies, I could never have been Prime Minister in Russia. : The tiger cannot change its nature, nor the snake lose its venom; but are you turned a lover of the people? : Mon Dieu, non, Mademoiselle! I would much sooner talk scandal in a drawing-room than treason in a cellar. Besides, I hate the common mob, who smell of garlic, smoke bad tobacco, get up early, and dine off one dish. : What have you to gain, then, by a revolution? : Mon ami, I have nothing left to lose. That scatter-brained boy, this new Czar, has banished me. : To Siberia? : No, to Paris. He has confiscated my estates, robbed me of my office and my cook. I have nothing left but my decorations. I am here for revenge. : Then you have a right to be one of us. We also meet daily for revenge. : You want money of course. No one ever joins a conspiracy who has any. Here. (Throws money on table.) You have so many spies that I should think you want information. Well, you will find me the best-informed man in Russia on the abuses of our Government. I made them nearly all myself. : President, I don't trust this man. He has done us too much harm in Russia to let him go in safety. : Believe me, Mademoiselle, you are wrong. I will be a most valuable addition to your circle, and as for you, gentlemen if I had not thought that you would be useful to me I shouldn't have risked my neck among you, or dined an hour earlier than usual so as to be in time. : Ay, if he had wanted to spy on us, Vera, he wouldn't have come himself. (aside): No; I should have sent my best friend. : Besides, Vera, he is just the man to give us the information we want about some business we have in hand to-night. : Be it so if you wish it. : Brothers, is it your will that Prince Paul Maraloffski be admitted, and take the oath of the Nihilist? : It is! It is! (holding out dagger and a paper): Prince Paul, the dagger or the oath? (smiles sardonically): I would sooner annihilate than be annihilated. (Takes paper.) : Remember: Betray us, and as long as earth holds poison or steel, as long as men can strike or women betray, you shall not escape vengeance. The Nihilists never forget their friends, or forgive their enemies. : Really? I did not think you were so civilised. (pacing up and down behind): Why is he not here? He will not keep the crown. I know him well. : Sign. ( signs.) You said you thought we had no creed. You were wrong. Read it! : This is a dangerous thing, President. What can we do with this man? : We can use him. He is of value to us to-night and to-morrow. : Perhaps there will be no morrow for any of us; but we have given him our word: he is safer here than ever he was in his palace. (reading): "The rights of humanity"! In the old times men carried out their rights for themselves as they lived, but nowadays every baby seems born with a social manifesto in its mouth much bigger than itself. "Nature is not a temple, but a workshop: we demand the right to labour." Ah, I shall surrender my own rights in that respect. (pacing up and down behind): Oh, will he never come? Will he never come? : "The family as subversive of true socialistic and communal unity is to be annihilated." Yes, President, I agree completely with Article 5. A family is a terrible incumbrance, especially when one is not married. (Three knocks at the door.) : Alexis at last! Password: Væ tyrannis! Answer: Væ victis! (Enter .) : Michael, the regicide! Brothers, let us do honour to a man who has killed a king. (aside): Oh, he will come yet! : Michael, you have saved Russia. : Ay, Russia was free for a moment when the tyrant fell, but the sun of liberty has set again like that false dawn which cheats our eyes in autumn. : The dread night of tyranny is not yet past for Russia. (clutching his knife): One more blow, and the end is come indeed.