salute you; and you dare not punish them: you have to pretend not
to notice it.

STRAMMFEST. It is not for you to taunt me with that if it is so.

THE GRAND DUCHESS. [haughtily]. Taunt! I condescend to taunt! To
taunt a common General! You forget yourself, sir.

STRAMMFEST [dropping on his knee submissively]. Now at last you
speak like your royal self.

THE GRAND DUCHESS. Oh, Strammfest, Strammfest, they have driven
your slavery into your very bones. Why did you not spit in my
face?.

STRAMMFEST [rising with a shudder]. God forbid!

THE GRAND DUCHESS. Well, since you will be my slave, take your
orders from me. I have not come here to save our wretched family
and our bloodstained crown. I am come to save the Revolution.

STRAMMFEST. Stupid as I am, I have come to think that I had
better save that than save nothing. But what will the Revolution
do for the people? Do not be deceived by the fine speeches of the
revolutionary leaders and the pamphlets of the revolutionary
writers. How much liberty is there where they have gained the
upper hand? Are they not hanging, shooting, imprisoning as much
as ever we did? Do they ever tell the people the truth? No: if
the truth does not suit them they spread lies instead, and make
it a crime to tell the truth.