THIRD MASK. The Cardinal? FIRST MASK. Don't know. SECOND MASK. The Punchinello? THIRD MASK. I don't know. FOURTH MASK. It's too delicious. FIFTH MASK. All incognito. THE PUNCHINELLO. [_To a lady in a domino._] Your ear-- THE DOMINO. What for? THE PUNCHINELLO. Ah, hush! My secret! FIRST MASK. Watteau-- THE PUNCHINELLO. [_To another_ DOMINO.] Your ear-- FIRST MASK. Would have delighted in these figures-- THE DOMINO. [_To the_ PUNCHINELLO.] What for? THE PUNCHINELLO. Ah, hush! My secret! FIRST MASK. And these ruins. ANOTHER MASK. All is uncertain, tremulous, and vague-- Our hearts, the music, moonbeams, and the water. METTERNICH. And so, dear Attaché of the French Embassy, Here I've contrived half-darkness and half-silence, And yonder in the music and the light The ball-- THE ATTACHÉ. It's really-- METTERNICH. Rather good, I think. This way-- THE ATTACHÉ. You condescend to be my guide? METTERNICH. Dear friend, I'm prouder of this little ball, Of having mingled all these courtly perfumes With the wild odors of the midnight woods, Than ever of the Congress of Verona. That is the vestiary and the way out So that in leaving you may find at once Your Polish mantle or your overcoat. Lastly, the theatre which I've contrived On yonder bowling-green, near Cupid's fountain, Where, in a set-piece made of natural foliage, Some princely amateurs will play "Michel And"--I don't know--some dainty little piece By a French author: Eugène--what's-his-name? THE ATTACHÉ. And--supper? METTERNICH. Here. THE ATTACHÉ. What? METTERNICH. Every box will blossom With snowy tablecloths and golden dishes. THE ATTACHÉ. The orange-trees? METTERNICH. My own idea. They'll bring All they can find. Under each leafy ball Two couples will be seated, starved and laughing. THE ATTACHÉ. Supper in short at separate orange-trees? Splendid. METTERNICH. Why, yes.--And as for grave affairs-- [_To a_ LACKEY.] Tell them to play no more Slavonic dances-- [_To the_ ATTACHÉ.] I do not put them off. Not I. I leave Ere supper-time to meet the Hospodars-- They are awaiting me-- [_To a_ LACKEY.] Those wreaths are skimpy. My hobby's organizing balls like this; And when the revelry is at its highest Back to the everlasting Eastern Question! I love to rule a people and a ball: The Arbiter of Europe-- THE ATTACHÉ. And its elegance! GENTZ. _Arbiter Elegantiarum!_ METTERNICH. Ah, You're talking Latin; you've been drinking? GENTZ. Rum.