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COLONEL. I have been doing so all the time. I tried to shame him, and
also to convince him that it would only be worse for himself, and that
he would gain nothing by it. Besides that, I spoke of his relations. He
was very excited, but holds to his opinions.
GENERAL. A pity you talked to him so much. We are in the army not to
reason, but to act. Call him here!
Exit Adjutant with Clerk.
GENERAL [sits down] No, Colonel, that's not the way. Fellows of this
kind must be dealt with in a different manner. Decisive measures are
needed to cut off the diseased limb. One maggoty sheep infects the whole
flock. In these cases one must not be too squeamish. His being a Prince,
and having a mother and a fiancée, is none of our business. We have a
soldier before us and we must obey the Tsar's will.
COLONEL. I only thought that we could move him more easily by
persuasion.
GENERAL. Not at all--by firmness; only by firmness! I have dealt with
men of that sort before. He must be made to feel that he is a
nonentity--a grain of dust beneath a chariot wheel, and that he cannot
stop it.
COLONEL. Well, we can try!
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