Bonaparte, François-Charles-Joseph, Herzog von Reichstadt, 1811-1832 -- Drama
I? To Saint Helena.
LORD COWLEY.
I beg your pardon?
THE DUKE.
A wholesome, leafy nook. So gay!--At evening
Delightful. I should like to see you there.
GENTZ.
[_Hastily to the_ AMBASSADOR, _while the_ DUKE _moves
away._]
They call the village in the Helenenthal
Saint Helena. A fashionable stroll.
LORD COWLEY.
Ah, really? I was almost wondering
Whether he meant it as a hit--?
[_He turns away._]
GENTZ.
[_Lifting his hands in amazement at_ LORD COWLEY'S
_dulness._]
These English!
VOICES.
We're off!
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
[_To_ MARIA LOUISA.]
Louisa?
MARIA LOUISA.
No, I stay at home.
VOICES.
The carriages.
THE ARCHDUCHESS.
[_To the_ DUKE.]
And you, Franz?
MARIA LOUISA.
He hates nature.
He even gallops through Saint Helena.
THE DUKE.
Yes! I gallop!
[_General leave-taking and gradual departure._
MARIA LOUISA.
_So_ devoid of fancy!
MONTENEGRO.
[_Going._]
I know a place for supper where the cider--
CRIES.
[_Without._]
Good-bye! Good-bye!
GENTZ.
[_On the terrace._]
Don't talk about the hydra!
THERESA.
[_To_ TIBURTIUS.]
Brother, good-bye!
TIBURTIUS.
Good-by.
[_He goes out with_ BOMBELLES.]
MARIA LOUISA.
[_To the Maids of Honor, indicating_ THERESA.]
Show her her rooms.
[THERESA _goes out accompanied by the Maids of
Honor._ MARIA LOUISA _calls the Duke, who was
going toward the garden._]
MARIA LOUISA.
Franz!
[_He turns._]
Now I'm going to amuse you.
THE DUKE.
Really?
[SCARAMPI _carefully closes all the doors._]
MARIA LOUISA.
Hush!--I've conspired!
THE DUKE.
Mother! You!--Conspired!
MARIA LOUISA.
Hush! They've forbidden whatever comes from France--
But I have ordered secretly from Paris,
From the best houses--Oh! my fop shall smile!--
For you, a tailor,
[_Pointing to_ SCARAMPI.]
and for us, a fitter.
I really think the notion--
THE DUKE.
Exquisite!
SCARAMPI.
[_Opening the door of_ MARIA LOUISA'S _apartment._]
Come in!
[_Enter a young lady, dressed with the elegance of
a milliner's dummy, and carrying two great
card-board dress-boxes, and a young man
dressed like a fashion plate, who also carries
two big boxes._]
THE TAILOR.
[_Coming down to the_ DUKE, _while the young lady unpacks
the dresses on a sofa at the back._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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