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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07
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PRINCE (peeping out from the door, aside).
To me?
QUEEN
If I may judge by the letters the Prince brings me from my son, he himself will one day be one of the best sovereigns of our century.
PRINCE (aside).
The field is all in my favor.
QUEEN
My son, who judges men so keenly, assures me that I may trust this Prince completely. And I need some one of force and character to aid me; I need such a one now more than ever.
SONNSFELD (alarmed).
Is there—is there anything new in the air, Your Majesty?
QUEEN
I shall need to display all my strength, all my will-power. I shall have need of it to uphold the dignity of a monarchy whose natural head appears to forget more and more that Prussia has recently joined the ranks of the Great Powers of Europe.
SONNSFELD
Your Majesty—is laying plots?
QUEEN
I am consumed with curiosity to make the acquaintance of this Prince whom my son considers worthy of his friendship. [SONNSFELD motions to the Prince.] As soon as he arrives, dear Sonnsfeld—
SONNSFELD (pointing to the PRINCE, who comes in).
Kamke has just shown him in. Here he is, Your Majesty.
QUEEN (rising).
This is a surprise, Prince. I did not hear you enter.
PRINCE
Your Majesty was so deeply absorbed in thought—
QUEEN (aside).
He has a pleasing exterior and intelligent eyes. [Aloud.] Did my messenger—
PRINCE
The good fellow met me just as I was about to leave my hotel. He gave me
Your Majesty's gracious command.
QUEEN. Prince—[She sits down, motioning him to do the same.]
My heartiest thanks for the letters from my worthy son. One sentence, which I reread many times, permits me to assume that he has informed you of a certain matter, a certain plan of mine—
PRINCE
Certainly, Your Majesty. [Aside.] I haven't heard a word about it.
QUEEN
It makes me very happy to know that in this matter, as indeed in most things, my son and I are so completely in accord. Then you, also, think as we do on this subject?
PRINCE
Undoubtedly—undoubtedly, Your Majesty. [Aside.] If I only knew what subject!
QUEEN
My son writes me that I may rely entirely on your sympathy in this affair.
PRINCE
He did not exaggerate, Your Majesty. When I parted from him, his last words, called after my moving carriage, were these: "Dear friend, my gracious mother, the Queen, will inform you as to all further details concerning the affair in question."
QUEEN
That sounds very like him. I am quite ready to do as he says.
PRINCE (aside).
The plot thickens.
QUEEN
You know that the Electors of Brandenburg have but recently become Kings of Prussia. Although a Hanoverian Princess myself, I find my happiness in Prussia's greatness, my pride in Prussia's fame. No state has such need to be careful in the choice of its alliances, political or matrimonial, as our own. And hence there is no subject so interesting and so important to our country at the moment as a certain question which is already exciting the Cabinets of Europe, a question—the answer to which you have doubtless already guessed.
PRINCE
I think—I may say—that I understand Your Majesty entirely. [Aside.]
What can she mean?
QUEEN
No one can call me unduly proud. But if one belongs to a family which has recently had the honor of being chosen to fill the throne of England—if one is the daughter of a King, the wife of a King, the mother of a future King—you will understand that in this matter of my daughter's future—there are weighty considerations which force me to avoid any possible political mésalliance.
