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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07
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Convince yourself, Your Majesty. These immoral French writings are all marked with the initials of His Highness the Crown Prince.
SECKENDORF
F.P.R
GRUMBKOW
Frédéric, Prince Royal.
[The KING starts in anger, takes up one of the books and then touches the bell. EVERSMANN comes in.]
KING
Eversman [with conscious impressiveness], my spectacles! [EVERSMANN goes out and returns again with a big pair of glasses.] The Attorney-General must make a thorough examination of this vagrant's papers…. I will not have these French clowns in my country. [He looks through one of the books.] The Crown Prince's seal—But no—no … the vagabond must have stolen it from him.
GRUMBKOW
Or else the books were intended for the Princess' instruction.
KING
This sort of book? These French—hold! hold! what have we here—is this not the disgusting novel written by the hunchback Scarron, the husband of the fine Madame Maintenon—his notorious satire upon our Court?
GRUMBKOW AND EVERSMANN (together).
Our Court?
KING (turning the leaves).
A satire on us all—on me—on Seckendorf, Grumbkow, Eversmann.
EVERSMANN
On me, too? KING (serious).
The Crown Prince has underscored most of it, that it may be better understood. Here is a Marshal with the nickname le chicaneur. You know that's meant for you, Grumbkow.
GRUMBKOW
Outrageous!
KING
The Ambassador, Vicomte de la Rancune, otherwise le petit combinateur.
That's you, Seckendorf.
SECKENDORF
It's—it's an international insult.
KING
And he called Eversmann la rapinière, or, as we would say, Old
Rapacity!
EVERSMANN
The rogue! And such books find their way into the country—marked properly by the Crown Prince at that!
KING
Can Wilhelmine be a party to this? That would indeed be scandalous. The Attorney-General must make a thorough investigation. [In extreme anger.] Isn't it possible for me to have a single quiet moment?
EVERSMANN
Your Majesty, shall I take these ungodly books to the executioner, to have them burned?
KING
No. I wouldn't use them even to light my pipe—not even as bonfires for our festivities. Gentlemen, shake this matter off, as I have done. This evening, over our glowing pipes, and in the enjoyment of a glass of good German beer, we also can be just as witty at the expense of Versailles and the entire French cabinet.
GRUMBKOW AND SECKENDORF (together, aside).
Bonfires for the festivities?
EVERSMANN
But the books are to be burned, Your Majesty?
KING
Yes, in another manner. Send them out to the powder mills by the Oranienburger gate. They can make cartridges for my grenadiers out of them. [He goes out.]
GRUMBKOW, SECKENDORF, EVERSMANN (aside). Festivities?
[They go out.]
SCENE VII
The scene changes to the room of Act I.
BARONET HOTHAM comes in cautiously through the centre door, followed by KAMKE.
HOTHAM
A hall with four doors? Quite right. The Princess' room there? And the Queen's here? Thanks, good friend. [KAMKE goes out.] Baronet Hotham is preserving his incognito to the extent of becoming entirely invisible. I've smuggled myself into the country from London—by way of Hanover—as if I were a bale of prohibited merchandise. [Wipes his forehead.] The deuce take this equestrian official business, where a man needs have the manners of a dandy with the unfeeling bones of a postilion. For four days I've scarcely been out of the saddle. [He throws himself into a chair.] Gad! if the nations knew how a man has to win his way through to the Foreign Office by years of courier-riding, they'd not think it strange that their statesmen, grown mature, seem disinclined to trip the light fantastic. Faith, it weighs one's pocket heavily, this carrying a kingdom about with one. [He slaps his right coat-pocket.] Here lies the crown of England. [Now the left coat-pocket.] Here the crown of Scotland—and here, in my waistcoat pocket, is Ireland. What shall I take from herein exchange? [He looks about.] Is the gilding real? It looks deuced niggardly and close-fisted. There's space enough in these great halls, but I'll wager there are many mice here. It's as quiet as an English Sunday. [Rises.] There's some one coming.
