EDSTASTON. Say I was gone before you arrived with the message.
[He hurries out. The other three, too taken aback to stop him,
stare after him in the utmost astonishment.]

NARYSHKIN [turning from the door]. She will have him knouted. He
is a dead man.

THE PRINCESS DASHKOFF. But what am I to do? I cannot take such an
answer to the Empress.

PATIOMKIN. P-P-P-P-P-P-W-W-W-W-W-rrrrrr [a long puff, turning
into a growl]! [He spits.] I must kick somebody.

NARYSHKIN [flying precipitately through the central doors]. No,
no. Please.

THE PRINCESS DASHKOFF [throwing herself recklessly in front of
Patiomkin as he starts in pursuit of the Chamberlain]. Kick me.
Disable me. It will be an excuse for not going back to her. Kick
me hard.

PATIOMKIN. Yah! [He flings her on the bed and dashes after
Naryshkin.]



THE THIRD SCENE

In a terrace garden overlooking the Neva. Claire, a robust young