The throne! the throne! Oh, never hope again That you may reign in France, you--Upstart's son, Because our nobler blood has made you look Rather more kingly than your father was. THE DUKE. Forgive me, but at Dresden, you remember, You all appeared like lackeys of my father. THE EMPEROR. A common soldier! THE DUKE. He had but to ask And Emperors gave their daughters to this soldier. THE EMPEROR. Perhaps. I cannot say. Mine is a widow. THE DUKE. Pity I'm here as living evidence! THE EMPEROR. Have you forgotten how we loved each other? THE DUKE. No! No! My birth is proof that you were beaten! No! you can only hate me; for I am Wagram personified before your eyes! THE EMPEROR. Out of my sight! Begone! [_Exit the_ DUKE.] The child I loved! METTERNICH. Well, Sire, is he to have an empire? THE EMPEROR. Never! METTERNICH. Do you perceive what I have saved you from? THE EMPEROR. Ah! did you hear the monstrous things he said? METTERNICH. We must subdue him. THE EMPEROR. For his own sake; yes, METTERNICH. For the world's peace and yours. THE EMPEROR. We must subdue him. METTERNICH. I'll come and speak to him to-night. THE EMPEROR. What grief He gives me! METTERNICH. [_Trying to lead him away._] Come. THE EMPEROR. You'll speak to-night? METTERNICH. This scene Must never be repeated. THE EMPEROR. It has hurt me. Unhappy child! METTERNICH. [_Leading him off._] Come, Sire. THE EMPEROR. [_Without._] The child-- [_His voice dies away._] [_The_ DUKE _opens his door very gently, sees they are gone, listens a moment, then enters quickly and places one of Napoleon's little hats on the table._] THE DUKE. The signal! [_He returns to his room._] [FLAMBEAU _enters._] FLAMBEAU. 'Tis time. Well, signal? Are you here?--Perhaps. [_He hunts for it._] "Flambeau," he said, "you cannot fail to find it." Now, is it high or low, or black or white? Or great or small? [_He sees the hat._] The Emperor's--! Small _and_ great! [_He goes toward the window._] Oh, but the Countess watches in the park, And if the signal's here I am to signal: [_He takes out his handkerchief._] No! This won't do. A white flag makes her ill. [_A servant enters with a reading-lamp, which he carries toward the_ DUKE'S _room._] THE SERVANT. The Duke of Reichstadt's reading-lamp. FLAMBEAU. [_Leaping upon him and seizing the lamp._] You dolt! It's leaking! It must have fresh air! [_He takes it out on the balcony._]