FANNY. A cab. THE DUKE. A cab? FANNY. With spanking horses; have no fear. THE DUKE. Where does it take me? FANNY. To the rendezvous. THE DUKE. Where's that? FANNY. Out of your way, but so the Countess Would have it:--Wagram. THE DUKE. What a Bonaparte! FANNY. Well? Are you pleased? THE DUKE. Dear little Tanagra, I'll recompense your zeal-- FANNY. Ungrateful monster! THE DUKE. And Prokesch? FANNY. He'll be waiting for you there. THE DUKE. The only man whose eye we had to fear-- Prince Metternich--has left. All will go well. FLAMBEAU. Metternich gone! You never said a word! THE DUKE. Well-- FLAMBEAU. And you let me catch my death, beneath This beastly urn--! FANNY. Masks coming! MASKS. Sandor! Zichy! It's Thalberg!--Never!--Thalberg is a Turk! It's Cocica!--Not he!--He's fled!--Oh! catch him! FLAMBEAU. Gone? THE DUKE AND FANNY. Gone. FLAMBEAU. [_Emerging, dressed as in the previous act._] Then-- THE DUKE AND FANNY. Are you mad? FLAMBEAU. We'll shut the trap. THE DUKE. But if they see you--! FANNY. Vanish! This is frightful! THE DUKE. What will they say? FLAMBEAU. I'll tell you what they'll say-- MASKS. [_Seeing_ FLAMBEAU.] And this one! Oh! a veteran of the Empire! FLAMBEAU. [_To the_ DUKE.] Well, there you are, you see! That's what they'll say. MASKS. Capital! Capital! FLAMBEAU. I take my ease. A MASK. [_To another._] Come and admire the veteran! THE OTHER. First rate! THIRD MASK. Look at his earrings! FOURTH MASK. And his bushy eyebrows! FLAMBEAU. But how shall I get out without a cloak? FANNY. Here's Gentz's ticket: such a handsome mantle. A MASK. Hail, Veteran! FLAMBEAU. The honor's mine. [_The_ USHER _enters, followed by_ SERVANTS _who push on orange-trees, the boxes laid as tables._] THE USHER. Make room! THE LACKEY. [_Who took the_ DUKE'S _note._] They understand, my Lord. The hunting-lodge. FANNY. What's that? THE DUKE. I had forgotten. I gave orders-- I was to spend the night there. Warn the Countess. Run! Run and say 'tis thither she must go! [FANNY _goes out quickly._] [Illustration: The Duke de Reichstadt Francesco Duc de Reichstadt] A MASK. [_To_ FLAMBEAU.] Well, Sergeant? So you served-- FLAMBEAU. The gr-reat-- SEVERAL MASKS. [_Laughing._] The gr-reat! FLAMBEAU. They didn't laugh when we were quartered on 'em! EXCLAMATIONS.