ily. The General comes in, the sergeant goes out.
General Burgoyne is 55, and very well preserved. He is a man of
fashion, gallant enough to have made a distinguished marriage by an
elopement, witty enough to write successful comedies,
aristocratically-connected enough to have had opportunities of high
military distinction. His eyes, large, brilliant, apprehensive, and
intelligent, are his most remarkable feature: without them his fine
nose and small mouth would suggest rather more fastidiousness and less
force than go to the making of a first rate general. Just now the eyes
are angry and tragic, and the mouth and nostrils tense.

BURGOYNE. Major Swindon, I presume.

SWINDON. Yes. General Burgoyne, if I mistake not. (They bow to one
another ceremoniously.) I am glad to have the support of your presence
this morning. It is not particularly lively business, hanging this poor
devil of a minister.

BURGOYNE (throwing himself onto Swindon's chair). No, sir, it is not.
It is making too much of the fellow to execute him: what more could you
have done if he had been a member of the Church of England? Martyrdom,
sir, is what these people like: it is the only way in which a man can
become famous without ability. However, you have committed us to
hanging him: and the sooner he is hanged the better.

SWINDON. We have arranged it for 12 o'clock. Nothing remains to be done
except to try him.

BURGOYNE (looking at him with suppressed anger). Nothing--except to
save our own necks, perhaps. Have you heard the news from Springtown?

SWINDON. Nothing special. The latest reports are satisfactory.

BURGOYNE (rising in amazement). Satisfactory, sir! Satisfactory!! (He
stares at him for a moment, and then adds, with grim intensity) I am
glad you take that view of them.

SWINDON (puzzled). Do I understand that in your opinion--

BURGOYNE. I do not express my opinion. I never stoop to that habit of
profane language which unfortunately coarsens our profession. If I did,
sir, perhaps I should be able to express my opinion of the news from
Springtown--the news which YOU (severely) have apparently not heard.
How soon do you get news from your supports here?--in the course of a
month eh?

SWINDON (turning sulky). I suppose the reports have been taken to you,
sir, instead of to me. Is there anything serious?

BURGOYNE (taking a report from his pocket and holding it up).
Springtown's in the hands of the rebels. (He throws the report on th