The Lonely Way-Intermezzo-Countess Mizzie - LightNovelsOnl.com
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GARDENER
With Your Grace's permission, I have just cut the tea roses.
COUNT
Why all that lot?
GARDENER
The bush is full up. It ain't wise, Your Grace, to leave 'em on the stem much longer. If maybe Your Grace could find some use....
COUNT
Haven't got any. Why do you stand there looking at me? I'm not going to the city. I won't need any flowers. Why don't you put them in some of those vases and things that are standing about in there? Quite the fas.h.i.+on nowadays, isn't it? (_He takes the bunch of flowers from the gardener and inhales their fragrance while he seems to be pondering something_) Wasn't that a carriage that stopped here?
GARDENER
That's His Highness' pair of blacks. I know 'em by their step.
COUNT
Thanks very much then. (_He hands back the roses_)
PRINCE (_comes in by the gate_)
COUNT (_goes to meet him_)
GARDENER
Good morning, Your Highness.
PRINCE
h.e.l.lo, Peter.
GARDENER (_goes out toward the right_)
PRINCE (_wears a light-colored Summer suit; is fifty-five, but doesn't look it; tall and slender; his manner of speech suggests the diplomat, who is as much at home in French as in his native tongue_)
COUNT
Delighted, old chap. How goes it?
PRINCE
Thanks. Splendid day.
COUNT (_offers him one of his gigantic cigars_)
PRINCE
No, thank you, not before lunch. Only one of my own cigarettes, if you permit. (_He takes a cigarette from his case and lights it_)
COUNT
So you've found time to drop in at last. Do you know how long you haven't been here? Three weeks.
PRINCE (_glancing toward the balcony_)
Really that long?
COUNT
What is it that makes you so scarce?
PRINCE
You mustn't mind. But you are right, of course. And even to-day I come only to say good-by.
COUNT
What--good-by?
PRINCE
I shall be off to-morrow.
COUNT
You're going away? Where?
PRINCE
The sea sh.o.r.e. And you--have you made any plans yet?
COUNT
I haven't given a thought to it yet--this year.
PRINCE
Well, of course, it's wonderful right here--with your enormous park.
But you have to go somewhere later in the Summer?
COUNT
Don't know yet. But it's all one.
