Majesty. You blushed when the Prince spoke of her. You threatened
to strike him across the face with your sword because you thought
he did not speak enthusiastically enough of her. [To Catherine.]
Trust me: he has seen your Imperial Majesty before.

CATHERINE [to Edstaston]. You have seen us before?

EDSTASTON. At the review, Madam.

VARINKA [triumphantly]. Aha! I knew it. Your Majesty wore the
hussar uniform. He saw how radiant! how splendid! your Majesty
looked. Oh! he has dared to admire your Majesty. Such insolence
is not to be endured.

EDSTASTON. All Europe is a party to that insolence, Madam.

THE PRINCESS DASHKOFF. All Europe is content to do so at a
respectful distance. It is possible to admire her Majesty's
policy and her eminence in literature and philosophy without
performing acrobatic feats in the Imperial bed.

EDSTASTON. I know nothing about her Majesty's eminence in policy
or philosophy: I don't pretend to understand such things. I speak
as a practical man. And I never knew that foreigners had any
policy: I always thought that policy was Mr. Pitt's business.

CATHERINE [lifting her eyebrows]. So?

VARINKA. What else did you presume to admire her Majesty for,
pray?