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Could I beg a moment alone with your Majesty? For it would be my humble view that both _fiances_ share the surprise.
QUEEN
[_Turning to the PRINCE with a gesture of dismissal._]
Go along, Charles. At any rate you have a sort of sleight-of-hand manner of looking at your watch that makes me rather nervous.
PRINCE
[_Taking her hand, and becoming mischievously eloquent with relief._]
Then, _au revoir_, my Cousin. When this garish day is drowned in the sapphire pool of night, and we are all like pallid flowers tossed upon moody currents of mysterious desire, perhaps--who knows? our petals may touch in that tender gloom of night and music.
[_Bends tenderly, whimsically over her hand._]
QUEEN
[_Gazing after his exit enraptured, once more hopeful, then turning to PHEDRO._]
Ah, Phedro, what joy there is in being foolis.h.!.+
PHEDRO
Pleasure has two extremes, Madame. One is to have your lover in your arms, the other is to have him in your power.
QUEEN [_pacing up and down_]
I must have one or the other. What can be done. Think for me, advise me. I am too unstrung to think for myself. When one wants a thing very much, everything blurs.
PHEDRO
There are many voices whispering all together in my mind. In a little perhaps one will be louder than the rest--then we may plan.
QUEEN
But the fete. We are continually forgetting about the fete.
PHEDRO
[_Thinking, with his finger against his lips._]
Out of one purpose often comes another perfected.
QUEEN
You are talking in enigmas, and it is growing late. See how long and slender the poplar shadows are getting on the gra.s.s. When the wind and sun touch them they look a little like obelisks flashed over with strange writings.
PHEDRO
Your Majesty is adding the accomplishment of a poet to the genius of a sovereign.
QUEEN [_s.h.i.+vering_]
No, I would not like to be a poet. They are always dying of _ennui_ or madness. But, Phedro, to the point.
PHEDRO [_suddenly_]
Majesty, some mountebanks arrived at the park lodge last night. They crave to play before your Majesty.
QUEEN [_coming out of a reverie_]
Are they dancers, or do they act plays?
PHEDRO
Their performance I understand is peculiar. One of them is blind, the other is deformed in some way. With them is a doctor of philosophy, one who heals the scars of flesh or heart with powders or words befitting the case.
QUEEN [_wanly_]
They do not sound original.
PHEDRO
And yet from the effect they stir there must be something. It appears the clown causes those who are incurably sad to faint with laughter.
QUEEN
It would be charming to laugh, to be unable to help laughing. Have them sent to my porter in the northern wing and I will interview them before the masque. Ah, here comes the d.u.c.h.ess leaning upon her Prince's arm. I must say she looks as if there might be something more amusing to lean upon.
[_Enter JOSEPHINE and the PRINCE._]
QUEEN
Well, Josephine.
d.u.c.h.eSS
Well, my sister.
[_Sighs and stoops over a bed of heliotrope._]
QUEEN
Why are you so melancholy, Josephine? You are standing in the portals of joy--I confess they do not appear very much to intrigue you.
d.u.c.h.eSS
Possibly I am melancholy because I am not curious.
