STRAMMFEST. Bravo! War sets everything right: I have always said so. But what is a united people without a united army? And what can I do? I am only a soldier. I cannot make speeches: I have won no victories: they will not rally to my call [again he sinks into his chair with his former gesture of discouragement]. THE GRAND DUCHESS. Are you sure they will not rally to mine? STRAMMFEST. Oh, if only you were a man and a soldier! THE GRAND DUCHESS. Suppose I find you a man and a soldier? STRAMMFEST [rising in a fury]. Ah! the scoundrel you eloped with! You think you will shove this fellow into an army command, over my head. Never. THE GRAND DUCHESS. You promised everything. You swore anything. [She marches as if in front of a regiment.] I know that this man alone can rouse the army to enthusiasm. STRAMMFEST. Delusion! Folly! He is some circus acrobat; and you are in love with him. THE GRAND DUCHESS. I swear I am not in love with him. I swear I will never marry him. STRAMMFEST. Then who is he? THE GRAND DUCHESS. Anybody in the world but you would have guessed long ago. He is under your very eyes. STRAMMFEST [staring past her right and left]. Where? THE GRAND DUCHESS. Look out of the window. He rushes to the window, looking for the officer. The Grand Duchess takes off her cloak and appears in the uniform of the Panderobajensky Hussars. STRAMMFEST [peering through the window]. Where is he? I can see no one. THE GRAND DUCHESS. Here, silly. STRAMMFEST [turning]. You! Great Heavens! The Bolshevik Empress!