You’re very clever, aren’t you? I can read you like a book now. You thought I was young, and easily swayed, that you could make me love you, and I would throw over my country—my duty for you!

That’s not the way to look at it, Catheryne.

You weren’t so wise after all! Because you’ve lost you hear me?! Lost! You’ve guessed wrong in our little duel of wits! You forgot how close hate is to love!

You don’t know what you’re saying Catheryne—

You never loved me! You knew that I loved you, and you used that!

Catheryne stop talking like a child, we’re playing for countries now!

Yes we are, aren’t we!

This is a gun in my hand Rudolph. I’d advise you to be careful what you say.

Well… rather melodramatic, aren’t you…? Tell me, will I be the 7th notch on the gun or the 8th?… Haha… d’you mind if I smoke?

…Smoke?

I always smoke with the theater. Somehow it enhances the performance.

You can do anything you please, Rudolph, but you have very little time to do it it.

You mean you’re actually going to kill me?

I mean just that.

Well… go ahead.

…I’ll do this my own way. Look… you already know my purpose in being here. Now you with either give me my information, or I will kill you. You have until 9 o’clock.

You won’t do it. You can’t pull the trigger. You can’t pull it because you love me. It takes a very brave and a very cold woman to do that Catheryne… I don’t think you can. Isn’t that true? Isn’t that why you’re waiting?—

That’s not true!

Or is it because you want to watch your victim? You want my heart to constrict with agony, my hands to shake! You want me to plead for my life so you can make a generous gesture and spare me!… Sorry Catheryne, I don’t seem to be in the mood for prayers tonight.

You don’t think I’ll do it? That’s why you’re so brave.. You don’t think I’ll do it, you wouldn’t be so brave otherwise. You’re a coward at heart! You lied to me, you deceived me—

You tried to decieve me.

I’m tired of listening to you!

You gave me your heart you know… You’d like me to hand it back—whole again. But I won’t. You’ll live a long time yet Catheryne, an eternity without me. You will look into the faces of passers by hoping for something that will—for an instant—bring me back to you. You will find moonlit night strangely empty because, when you call my name through them there will be no answer. Always your heart will be aching for me, and your mind will give you the doubtful consolation that you did a brave thing.

Dangerously Yours, 1944
Masquerade