The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Vii Part 28

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.