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L'Aiglon.
by Edmond Rostand.
THE FIRST ACT
_At Baden, near Vienna, in 1830._
_The drawing-room of the villa occupied by_ MARIA LOUISA. _The walls are painted al fresco in bright colors. The frieze is decorated with a design of sphinxes._
_At the back, between two other windows, a window reaching to the ground and forming the entrance from the garden. Beyond, the bal.u.s.trade of the terrace leading into the garden; a glimpse of lindens and pine-trees. A magnificent day in the beginning of September. Empire furniture of lemonwood decorated with bronze. A large china stove in the centre of the wall on the left. In front of it a door. On the right, two doors.
The first leads to the apartments of_ MARIA LOUISA. _In front of the window on the left at the back an Erard piano of the period, and a harp.
A big table on the right, and against the right wall a small table with shelves filled with books. On the left, facing the audience, a Recamier couch, and a large stand for candlesticks. A great many flowers in vases. Framed engravings on the walls representing the members of the Imperial Family of Austria. A portrait of the Emperor Francis._
_At the rise of the curtain a group of elegant ladies is discovered at the further end of the room. Two of them are seated at the piano, with their backs to the audience, playing a duet. Another is at the harp.
They are playing at sight, amid much laughter and many interruptions. A lackey ushers in a modestly dressed young girl who is accompanied by an officer of the Austrian Cavalry. Seeing that no one notices their entrance, these two remain standing a moment in a corner. The_ COUNT DE BOMBELLES _comes in from the door on the right and goes toward the piano. He sees the young girl, and stops, with a smile._
THE LADIES.
[_Surrounding the piano, laughing, and all talking at the same time._]
She misses all the flats!--It's scandalous!-- I'll take the ba.s.s!--Loud pedal!--One! Two!--Harp!
BOMBELLES.
[_To_ THERESA.]
What! You!
THERESA.
Good-day, my Lord Bombelles!
A LADY.
[_At the piano._]
_Mi, sol._
THERESA.
I enter on my readers.h.i.+p--
ANOTHER LADY.
[_At the piano._]
The flats!
THERESA.
It's thanks to you.
BOMBELLES.
My dear Theresa! Nothing!
You are my relative, and you are French.
THERESA.
[_Presenting the officer._]
Tiburtius--
BOMBELLES.
Ah, your brother!
[_He gives him his hand and pushes forward a chair for_ THERESA.]
Take a seat.
THERESA.
I'm very nervous.
BOMBELLES.
[_With a smile._]
Heavens! What about?
THERESA.
To venture near the persons of the two The Emperor left!
BOMBELLES.
Oh, is that all, my child?
TIBURTIUS.
Our people hated Bonaparte of old--
THERESA.
Yes--but to see--
BOMBELLES.
His widow?
