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Read Ebook: Vera; Or The Nihilists by Wilde Oscar
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Ebook has 680 lines and 21601 words, and 14 pages
PETER . I shan't make much out of that order.
COLONEL. As for myself, what have you got fit to eat?
PETER. Some good dried venison, your Excellency--and some rye whisky.
COLONEL. Nothing else?
PETER. Why, more whisky, your Excellency.
COLONEL. What clods these peasants are! You have a better room than this?
PETER. Yes, sir.
COLONEL. Bring me there. Sergeant, post your picket outside, and see that these scoundrels do not communicate with any one. No letter writing, you dogs, or you'll be flogged for it. Now for the venison. Get out of the way, you fool! Who is that girl? .
PETER. My daughter, your Highness.
COLONEL. Can she read and write?
PETER. Ay, that she can, sir.
COLONEL. Then she is a dangerous woman. No peasant should be allowed to do anything of the kind. Till your fields, store your harvests, pay your taxes, and obey your masters--that is your duty.
VERA. Who are our masters?
COLONEL. Young woman, these men are going to the mines for life for asking the same foolish question.
VERA. Then they have been unjustly condemned.
PETER. Vera, keep your tongue quiet. She is a foolish girl, sir, who talks too much.
COLONEL. Every woman does talk too much. Come, where is this venison? Count, I am waiting for you. How can you see anything in a girl with coarse hands?
VERA . Won't you sit down? you must be tired.
SERGEANT. Come now, young woman, no talking to my prisoners.
VERA. I shall speak to them. How much do you want?
SERGEANT. How much have you?
VERA. Will you let these men sit down if I give you this? It is all I have; it was my mother's.
SERGEANT. Well, it looks pretty enough, and is heavy too. What do you want with these men?
VERA. They are hungry and tired. Let me go to them?
ONE OF THE SOLDIERS. Let the wench be, if she pays us.
SERGEANT. Well, have your way. If the Colonel sees you, you may have to come with us, my pretty one.
VERA . Sit down; you must be tired. What are you?
A PRISONER. Nihilists.
VERA. Who put you in chains?
PRISONER. Our Father the Czar.
VERA. Why?
PRISONER. For loving liberty too well.
VERA . What did you want to do?
VERA . What is your name?
VERA. Where are your friends?
VERA. Let me see your face!
VERA . Oh, God! Dmitri! my brother!
VERA . You must escape, Dmitri. I will take your place.
VERA. I shall revenge you.
SERGEANT. Prisoners, attention!--the Colonel is coming--young woman, your time is up.
PETER. I hope your Highness is pleased with the venison. I shot it myself.
COLONEL. It had been better had you talked less about it. Sergeant, get ready. Here, you cheating rascal!
PETER. My fortune is made! long live your Highness. I hope your Highness will come often this way.
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.
PETER . Long life to your Highness. I will hope to see another batch soon. Dmitri! Dmitri! my God! what brings you here? he is innocent, I tell you. I'll pay for him. Take your money , 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. Dmitri! Dmitri! a Nihilist!
VERA . "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. You shall be revenged!
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