The Emperor's Candlesticks Page #4

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to be traveling on this train?

Yes, indeed, sir.

Car 7, compartment C.

Car 7, compartment C?

- You know the lady, sir?

- Oh, yes, yes. Of course.

Thank you very much.

Good night.

- Albert...

- Yes, sir?

See if you can change my reservation to car

7 and try to get me compartment B or D.

B as in Beatrice, sir?

- Yes, and D as in Desdemona.

- Very good, sir.

Come in.

I beg your pardon.

Oh, yes?

Oh.

I beg your pardon,.

- Oh, conductor.

- Good evening, sir.

- Fine night, sir.

- Yes. Isn't it?

Do you, by chance, know the

reservations of countess Mironova?

Oh, yes.

That lady change

her reservation to car 4,

- compartment D.

- Ah, car 4, compartment D.

- That would be this way, wouldn't it?

- That would be that way.

- Ah?

- About 300 miles.

- What?

- She left on the afternoon train.

- You sent for me, madame?

- Yes, when do we get to the border?

We're nearing there

now, madame.

When does

the Russian train leave?

There's an hour wait to permit

passengers to clear the customs.

In my case, that will not be necessary.

I travel on diplomatic passport.

In that event I can have your bags

stamped on the platform and

transferred to the other

train when it arrives.

Thank you. My maid will be

in charge of my luggage.

May I remain in my compartment

during the interval?

That would be most unusual.

- Do you think it could be arranged?

- I think so, madame.

- It wouldn't be at all unusual.

- Thank you.

Come in.

- Will there be anything else, madame?

- No, stay with the luggage.

- I thought...

- Don't leave it for a moment.

Yes, madame.

Your imperial highness,

dinner is served.

Nothing. Nothing can induce

me to eat your prison food.

I've, I've...

Well, nothing?

Well, nothing

but my intense hunger.

I'm relieved.

Oh, I beg your highness to

think of your weak stomach.

If my stomach, since you are

kind enough to be concerned,

is in excellent condition.

In fact, at this moment,

my stomach is very happy.

Would that I were

as happy as my stomach.

But I beg your imperial highness

to think of the consequences.

As soon as we're

released, I'll have to...

I'll be free to order

whatever milk dishes I want.

Oh, and they'll

send me to Siberia.

To Siberia I...

May I serve the colonel

some goose liver and aspic?

Oh, get out.

Would the colonel be good enough to

ring if anything further is desired?

Get out.

- Your highness...

- Yes?

- My handkerchief.

- What about your handkerchief?

It's soiled and that costume your highness

you've been wearing it for two days..

- Romeo wore it all his life.

- Oh, he did?

Oh, they'll send me to Siberia.

- Suroff, they've neglected something.

- What?

Smart as they are, they've

neglected something.

- What?

- Our hotel.

Our hotel will notice our absence;

- They'll notify the police.

- Of course, your highness, the hotel.

The cutthroats forgot about our hotel.

The police will be notified, they'll find

us, and then we'll settle with the...

Oh, it's our baggage,

your highness.

How in the world did they...

We took the liberty of picking

up your baggage at the hotel.

We felt sure you'd like to change

your clothes and your linen.

They gave you our luggage

without asking any questions?

Why not?

We paid the bill.

Oh, well.

Send me to Siberia.

Don't give up, Suroff.

My father will get the letter

shortly, and we'll be free.

We'll be? Youve free.

Where do you think you'll be?

I'll be on my way to Siberia.

The custom examination is

over. What's holding us up?

The train will be leaving

any moment now, sir.

Thank you.

I shouldn't let you do it.

I know I shouldn't let you do it.

Stop it.

She'll hear you.

I shouldn't let you talk me into it.

She'll never know who did it.

The idea of making that kind

of fuss about a little jewelry.

If I'd have known that.

- Why, it wasn't even worth my time.

- They'll send me to jail.

They can't send you to jail if they

don't know you were mixed up in it.

- You'll never tell them, Anton?

- Of course, I won't.

Why don't you pull yourself together?

Here.

I'll tell you what we'll do.

I'll take this junk

and go on ahead.

In a couple of minutes, you

follow me with that basket.

Hurry, now.

And don't forget, we

don't know each other.

Get on the train, and I'll

see you in the last car.

- I'd like to see the countess Mironova.

- What name, sir?

- It's about the baggage she lost.

- Oh?

Oh, one moment, please.

I'll inform the countess.

Thank you.

Yes?

There's a gentleman downstairs

to see about your luggage.

- I'll see him in a minute.

- Very well, madame.

Just a moment young man.

You're under arrest.

Oh.

- What is it?

- I...

- Are you ill?

- I'm all right.

- Come along. No arguments.

- Oh, all right. All right.

Hadn't you better

rest a moment?

No, thank you.

I've got catch that train.

Oh, miss. You forgot your basket.

Oh, thank you.

This is the gentleman.

You wanted to see me?

- The countess Mironova?

- Yes.

May I talk with you alone

for a moment?

Certainly.

This way, sir. In here

you will not be disturbed.

Yes?

We've met before.

No. I don't remember.

Oh, yes. Of course.

- On the stairs at prince Johann's.

- Well, permit me to introduce myself.

I'm Stephan Wolensky.

Not baron Wolensky?

Yes.

So...

You are baron Wolensky?

And you,

the countess Mironova.

Strange we've never

known each other, isn't it?

It is.

You're Polish, are you not?

Oh, yes, indeed, and you are Russian.

We're neighbors,

so to speak.

So to speak.

But may I ask...

Oh, of course.

I happened to read of your very

serious loss on a poster at the station,

and I thought perhaps I might

be of some service to you.

Really? That is most

kind, but I don't quite...

well, you were

you had, I think, a pair of candlesticks.

What?

You've no idea what an extraordinary

coincidence has occurred.

Indeed?

It was I who was originally

to take those candlesticks.

You don't say so.

So, naturally, I feel, in a sort

of way, connected with them.

- Naturally.

- I'm so glad that you think so.

Yes, I do.

May I ask if they were stolen?

No.

No, I am glad to say

they are quite safe.

That's a great relief to me.

But all of my beautiful

jewelry has vanished.

Dreadful. How did it happen?

Entirely the fault of my maid.

I discharged her on the spot.

Now I wish I hadn't.

I have nobody to look after my dresses.

I have nobody to do my hair.

I would be honored if you

would allow me to look after...

I mean, do allow me to

look after your belongings.

Those candlesticks, for instance,

are more precious than you think.

Pardon me.

- They are more precious than you think.

- This is the lady.

Pard me.

The chief of police would like to have

you to come to headquarters at once.

We seem to have found everything,

and we are holding the thief.

Oh, thank heaven for that.

I'll come with you at once.

Pardon me, baron.

But do permit me to undertake

this errand for you.

You must be tired.

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