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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07
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KING
On his account? Possibly. [Aside.] I'll lead them all a dance. [Aloud.] Zounds! Villain! Rascal! My corns! I believe the rogue is hurting me on purpose—because I won't tell him anything.
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 shirt-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 fashion 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 shirt-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 shirt-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).
