CATHERINE [conquering herself with a mighty effort]. Now self-
control. Self-control, Catherine. Philosophy. Europe is looking
on. [She forces herself to sit down.]

EDSTASTON. Steady, dearest: it is the Empress. Call her your
Imperial Majesty. Call her Star of the North, Little Mother,
Little Darling: that's what she likes; but get the straps off.

CLAIRE. Keep quiet, dear: I cannot get them off if you move.

CATHERINE [calmly]. Keep quite still, Captain [she tickles him.]

EDSTASTON. Ow! Agh! Ahowyow!

CLAIRE [stopping dead in the act of unbuckling the straps and
turning sick with jealousy as she grasps the situation]. Was THAT
what I thought was your being tortured?

CATHERINE [urbanely]. That is the favorite torture of Catherine
the Second, Mademoiselle. I think the Captain enjoys it very
much.

CLAIRE. Then he can have as much more of it as he wants. I am
sorry I intruded. [She rises to go.]

EDSTASTON [catching her train in his teeth and holding on like a
bull-dog]. Don't go. Don't leave me in this horrible state.
Loosen me. [This is what he is saying: but as he says it with the
train in his mouth it is not very intelligible.]