Raina :
[timidly] Nine thousand hotels?
Bluntschli :
Hotels! Nonsense. If you only knew! Oh, it's too ridiculous. Excuse me: I must give my fellow orders about starting. [He leaves the room hastily, with the documents in his hand].
Louka :
[knowing instinctively that she can annoy Raina by disparaging Bluntschli] He has not much heart, that Swiss. He has not a word of grief for his poor father.
Raina :
[bitterly] Grief! A man who has been doing nothing but killing people for years! What does he care about? What does any soldier care about? [She goes to the door, restraining her tears with difficulty].
Louka :
Major Saranoff has been fighting too, and he has plenty of heart left. [Raina, at the door, draws herself up haughtily and goes out].
(i) What news has Bluntschli just received?
(ii) What makes Raina ask, `Nine thousand hotels'?
(iii) Why is Bluntschli in such a hurry to leave? What does Louka comment about him?
(iv) Why is Raina upset with Bluntschli?
(v) Why in your opinion, does Louka compare Bluntschli to Sergius? What does she comment when Raina leaves the room?
(vi) Who enters the room at this point? What news does he give Louka?
Solution 1
(i)
Bluntschli received the update that major Petkoff is in desperate need of help in working out the details of sending troops & horses to Philippolis.
(ii)
Raina asks ‘Nine thousand hotels’ to verify with Bluntschli as his father had hotel business.
(iii)
Louka interrupted Bluntschli & gave him all the letters & telegrams. After reading the letters, Bluntschli had to leave in a hurry as his father died & inherit several hotels which he will have to manage.
(iv)
Raina was upset with Bluntschli as he had to leave to handle his father’s estate but he promised to return & marry her.
(v)
(vi)
Nicola enters the room at this point & reveals that he no longer wishes to be engaged to Louka, & that she deserves to be married to a wealthier nobleman.
Solution 2
(i)
Bluntschli received the update that major Petkoff is in desperate need of help in working out the details of sending troops & horses to Philippolis.
(ii)
Raina asks ‘Nine thousand hotels’ to verify with Bluntschli as his father had hotel business.
(iii)
Louka interrupted Bluntschli & gave him all the letters & telegrams. After reading the letters, Bluntschli had to leave in a hurry as his father died & inherit several hotels which he will have to manage.
(iv)
Raina was upset with Bluntschli as he had to leave to handle his father’s estate but he promised to return & marry her.
(v)
(vi)
Nicola enters the room at this point & reveals that he no longer wishes to be engaged to Louka, & that she deserves to be married to a wealthier nobleman.
Solution 3
(i)
Bluntschli received the update that major Petkoff is in desperate need of help in working out the details of sending troops & horses to Philippolis.
(ii)
Raina asks ‘Nine thousand hotels’ to verify with Bluntschli as his father had hotel business.
(iii)
Louka interrupted Bluntschli & gave him all the letters & telegrams. After reading the letters, Bluntschli had to leave in a hurry as his father died & inherit several hotels which he will have to manage.
(iv)
Raina was upset with Bluntschli as he had to leave to handle his father’s estate but he promised to return & marry her.
(v)
(vi)
Nicola enters the room at this point & reveals that he no longer wishes to be engaged to Louka, & that she deserves to be married to a wealthier nobleman.
