The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries - LightNovelsOnl.com
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EVERSMANN.
But, Your Majesty, I haven't asked any questions yet.
KING.
I'll have you asking questions! Now what are you laughing at, sirrah?
Heh? Fetch me my dressing gown until you have found the uniform.
[EVERSMANN _turns to go_.] Hey, there! Why did you laugh just now?
EVERSMANN.
Because I know--that before I have brought Your Majesty your hat Your Majesty will have told me all about it.
KING (_threatening him with his cane_).
You rascal--how dare you?
EVERSMANN (_retiring toward the door_).
Your Majesty can't keep a secret. There is only one thing Your Majesty can hold fast to, and that is--_your money_! Ha! ha! I'll fetch the dressing-gown. [_He goes out_.]
SCENE IV
KING (_sitting in his s.h.i.+rt-sleeves_).
He's right. It burns my heart out. But they shan't know. Not any of them--they shan't. They've spoiled my pet plans before now. I'll play a different game, this time, and I'll send _all_ the camels through the needle's eye at once. They think I'm on the side of Austria. But no--ha!
ha! England's own offer, brought by the Hanoverian courier, was a great surprise to me--he! he! England is my wife's idea--therefore I am for England, too--and soon we'll have the wedding and the christening, ha!
ha!
[_A lackey comes in, announces_.]
LACKEY.
His Highness the Prince Hereditary of Baireuth.
KING.
Pleased to receive him.
[_The lackey goes out and the_ PRINCE _comes in_.]
PRINCE (_aside_).
Are these old crosspatch's apartments? [_To the_ KING.] That's the King's study in there, isn't it?
KING.
Yes--at your service.
PRINCE.
Go in and announce me. I'm the Prince of Baireuth.
KING (_surprised, aside_).
What does he take me for?
PRINCE.
What fas.h.i.+on is this? Are you in the King's service? Is this the style in which to receive guests to whom His Majesty has promised an audience?
KING.
Then Your Highness--wishes to speak to--to the King of Prussia?
PRINCE.
You heard me say so, did you not? Announce me.
KING.
At once, Your Highness. [_Turns to go_.]
PRINCE.
Is this the way to go into your master's presence? In your s.h.i.+rt-sleeves?
KING.
I'm--I'm on a very confidential footing with the King. [_He goes out_.]
PRINCE (_alone_).
This is a strange Royal Household indeed! The servants stand about the anterooms in their s.h.i.+rt-sleeves--doubtless from motives of economy to save their liveries. Well, the great hour has arrived--the die will fall. Wilhelmine--she--she alone I love--and she is to consent to unite herself to the painted picture of a Prince of Wales--the colored silhouette of an Austrian Arch-Duke whom she has never seen! Ah, no, my fate rests on the Genius of Love--on chance, which may be even kinder to me than I expect. Her parents are of divided minds--thereby do I gain time to win Wilhelmine's heart--for myself. The King is coming. Now I can listen to his favorable opinions regarding--Austria.
SCENE V
_The_ KING _comes in, in dress uniform, with the grand cordon_.
PRINCE (_looking at him_).
Is that not--
KING.
