The Lonely Way-Intermezzo-Countess Mizzie Part 90

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.