your husband is placing us under the greatest obligation by
taking this very disagreeable business so thoroughly in the
spirit of a gentleman. Sergeant: give Mr. Anderson a chair. (The
sergeant does so. Richard sits down.) Now, Major Swindon: we are
waiting for you.

SWINDON. You are aware, I presume, Mr. Anderson, of your
obligations as a subject of His Majesty King George the Third.

RICHARD. I am aware, sir, that His Majesty King George the Third
is about to hang me because I object to Lord North's robbing me.

SWINDON. That is a treasonable speech, sir.

RICHARD (briefly). Yes. I meant it to be.

BURGOYNE (strongly deprecating this line of defence, but still
polite). Don't you think, Mr. Anderson, that this is rather--if
you will excuse the word--a vulgar line to take? Why should you
cry out robbery because of a stamp duty and a tea duty and so
forth? After all, it is the essence of your position as a
gentleman that you pay with a good grace.

RICHARD. It is not the money, General. But to be swindled by a
pig-headed lunatic like King George.

SWINDON (scandalised). Chut, sir--silence!

SERGEANT (in stentorian tones, greatly shocked). Silence!