BARONESS I am sick of your scruples. You are ze only poor official in Bessarabia. BARON Be silent! Have I not forbidden----? BARONESS [_Petulantly_] Forbidden! Forbidden! All your life you have served ze Tsar, and you cannot afford a single automobile. A millionaire son-in-law is just vat you owe me. BARON What I owe you? BARONESS Yes, ven I married you, I vas tinking you had a good position. I did not know you were too honest to use it. You vere not open viz me, Alexis. BARON You knew I was a Revendal. The Revendals keep their hands clean.... [_With a sudden start he tiptoes noiselessly to the door leading to the hall and throws it open. Nobody is visible. He closes it shamefacedly._] BARONESS [_Has shared his nervousness till the door was opened, but now bursts into mocking laughter_] If you thought less about your precious safety, and more about me and Vera---- BARON Hush! You do not know Vera. You saw I was even afraid to give my name. She might have sent me away as she sent away the Tsar's plate of mutton. BARONESS The Tsar's plate of----? BARON Did I never tell you? When she was only a school-girl--at the Imperial High School--the Tsar on his annual visit tasted the food, and Vera, as the show pupil, was given the honour of finishing his Majesty's plate. BARONESS [_In incredulous horror_] And she sent it avay? BARON Gave it to a servant. [_Awed silence._] And then you think I can impose a husband on her. No, Katusha, I have to win her love for myself, not for millionaires. BARONESS [_Angry again_] Alvays so affrightfully selfish! BARON I have no control over her, I tell you! [_Bitterly_] I never could control my womenkind. BARONESS Because you zink zey are your soldiers. Silence! Halt! Forbidden! Right Veel! March! BARON [_Sullenly_] I wish I did think they were my soldiers--I might try the lash. BARONESS [_Springing up angrily, shakes parasol at him_] You British barbarian! VERA [_Outside the door leading to the interior_] Yes, thank you, Miss Andrews. I know I have visitors. BARON [_Ecstatically_] Vera's voice! [_The BARONESS lowers her parasol. He looks yearningly toward the door. It opens. Enter VERA with inquiring gaze._] VERA [_With a great shock of surprise_] Father!! BARON _Verotschka!_ My dearest darling!... [_He makes a movement toward her, but is checked by her irresponsiveness._] Why, you've grown more beautiful than ever. VERA You in New York! BARON The Baroness wished to see America. Katusha, this is my daughter. BARONESS [_In sugared sweetness_] And mine, too, if she vill let me love her. VERA [_Bowing coldly, but still addressing her father_] But how? When? BARON We have just come and---- BARONESS [_Dashing in_] Zat charming young man lent us his yacht--he is adoràhble. VERA What charming young man? BARONESS Ah, she has many, ze little coquette--ha! ha! ha! [_She touches VERA playfully with her parasol._]