GENERAL [sits down] No, Colonel, that's not the way. Fellows of this kind must be dealt with in a different manner. Decisive measures are needed to cut off the diseased limb. One maggoty sheep infects the whole flock. In these cases one must not be too squeamish. His being a Prince, and having a mother and a fiancée, is none of our business. We have a soldier before us and we must obey the Tsar's will. COLONEL. I only thought that we could move him more easily by persuasion. GENERAL. Not at all--by firmness; only by firmness! I have dealt with men of that sort before. He must be made to feel that he is a nonentity--a grain of dust beneath a chariot wheel, and that he cannot stop it. COLONEL. Well, we can try! GENERAL [getting irritable] No need to try! I don't need to try! I have served the Tsar for forty-four years, I have given and am giving my life to the service, and now this fellow wants to teach me and wants to read me theological lectures! Let him take that to the Priest, but to me--he is either a soldier or a prisoner. That's all! Enter Borís guarded by two Soldiers and followed by Adjutant and Clerk. GENERAL [pointing with a finger] Place him there. BORÍS. I need no placing. I shall stand or sit where I like, for I do not recognise your authority. GENERAL. Silence! You don't recognise authority? I will make you recognise it. BORÍS [sits down on a stool] How wrong it is of you to shout so! GENERAL. Lift him, and make him stand! Soldiers raise him. BORÍS. That you can do, and you can kill me; but you cannot make me submit ... GENERAL. Silence, I tell you. Hear what I have to say to you. BORÍS. I don't in the least want to hear what you have to say. GENERAL. He is mad! He must be taken to the hospital to be examined. That is the only thing to do. COLONEL. The order was to send him to be examined at the Gendarmes' office. GENERAL. Well, then, send him there. Only put him into uniform. COLONEL. He resists. GENERAL. Bind him. [To Borís] Please hear what I have to say to you. I don't care what happens to you, but for your own sake I advise you, bethink yourself. You will rot in a fortress, and not do any good to anyone. Give it up. Well, you flared up a bit and I flared up. [Slaps him on the shoulder] Go, take the oath and give up all that nonsense. [To Adjutant] Is the Priest here? [To Borís] Well? [Borís is silent] Why don't you answer? Really you had better do as I say. You can't break a club with a whip. You can keep your opinions, but serve your time! We will not use force with you. Well? BORÍS. I have nothing more to say, I have said all I had to.