COLONEL: By St. Nicholas, I hope not. It is too cold here for me. (To VERA): Young girl, don’t ask questions again about what does not concern you. I will not forget your face.

VERA: Nor I yours, or what you are doing.

COLONEL: You peasants are getting too saucy since you ceased to be serfs, and the knout is the best school for you to learn politics in. Sergeant, proceed.

The COLONEL turns and goes to the top of stage. The prisoners pass out double file; as DMITRI passes VERA he lets a piece of paper fall on the ground; she puts her foot on it and remains immobile.

PETER (who has been counting the money the COLONEL gave him): Long life to your Highness. I will hope to see another batch soon. (Suddenly catches sight of DMITRI as he is going out of the door, and screams and rushes up.) Dmitri! Dmitri! My God! What brings you here? He is innocent, I tell you. I’ll pay for him. Take your money (flings money on the ground), take all I have, give me my son. Villains! Villains! Where are you bringing him?

COLONEL: To Siberia, old man.

PETER: No, no; take me instead.

COLONEL: He is a Nihilist.

PETER: You lie! You lie! He is innocent. (The soldiers force him back with their guns and shut the door against him. He beats with his fists against it.) Dmitri! Dmitri! A Nihilist! A Nihilist! (Falls down on floor.)

VERA (who has remained motionless, picks up paper now from under her foot and reads): ’99 Rue Tchernavaya, Moscow. To strangle whatever nature is in me; neither to love nor to be loved; neither to pity nor to be pitied; neither to marry nor to be given in marriage, till the end is come.’ My brother, I shall keep the oath. (Kisses the paper.) You shall be revenged!

VERA stands immobile, holding paper in her lifted hand. PETER is lying on the floor. MICHAEL, who has just come in, is bending over him.

END OF PROLOGUE

ACT ONE

SCENE: 99 Tchernavaya, Moscow. A large garret lit by oil lamps hung from the ceiling. Some masked men standing silent and apart from one another. A man in a scarlet mask is writing at a table. Door at back. Man in yellow with drawn sword at it. Knocks heard. Figures in cloaks and masks enter.

Password. Per crucem ad lucem.

Answer. Per sanguinem ad libertatem.

Clock strikes. CONSPIRATORS form a semi-circle in the middle of the stage.

PRESIDENT: What is the word?

FIRST CONSPIRATOR: Nabat.

PRESIDENT: The answer?

SECOND CONSPIRATOR: Kalit.

PRESIDENT: What hour is it?

THIRD CONSPIRATOR: The hour to suffer.

PRESIDENT: What day?

FOURTH CONSPIRATOR: The day of oppression.

PRESIDENT: What year?

FIFTH CONSPIRATOR: The year of hope.

PRESIDENT: How many are we in number?

SIXTH CONSPIRATOR: Ten, nine, and three.

PRESIDENT: The Galilaean had less to conquer the world; but what is our mission?

SEVENTH CONSPIRATOR: To give freedom.