[She takes him firmly back to the middle of the room. The moment she releases him he turns mechanically towards the window again. She seizes him and turns him back, exclaiming] Please! [He becomes motionless, like a hypnotized rabbit, his fatigue gaining fast on him. She releases him, and addresses him patronizingly]. Now listen. You must trust to our hospitality. You do not yet know in whose house you are. I am a Petkoff.

THE MAN. A pet what ?

RAINA [rather indignantly] I mean that I belong to the family of the Petkoffs, the richest and best known in our country.

THE MAN. Oh yes, of course. I beg your pardon. The Petkoffs, to be sure. How stupid of me!

RAINA. You know you never heard of them until this moment. How can you stoop to pretend!

THE MAN. Forgive me: I’m too tired to think; and the change of subject was too much for me. Dont scold me.

RAINA. I forgot. It might make you cry. [He nods, quite seriously. She pouts and then resumes her patronizing tone]. I must tell you that my father holds the highest command of any Bulgarian in our army. He is [proudly] a Major.

THE MAN [prentending to be deeply impressed] A Major! Bless me! Think of that!

RAINA. YOU shewed great ignorance in thinking that it was necessary to climb up to the balcony because ours is the only private house that has two rows of windows. There is a flight of stairs inside to get up and down by.

THE MAN. Stairs! How grand! You live in great luxury indeed, dear young lady.

RAINA. Do you know what a library is ?

THE MAN. A library ? A roomful of books ?

RAINA. Yes. We have one, the only one in Bulgaria.

THE MAN.