[The PRINCE REGENT, having gone the round of the other rooms, now appears at the ball-room door, and stands looking at the dancers. Suddenly he turns, and gazes about with a ruffled face. He sees a tall, red-faced man near him--LORD MOIRA, one of his friends.] PRINCE REGENT Damned hot here, Moira. Hottest of all for me! MOIRA Yes, it is warm, sir. Hence I do not dance. PRINCE REGENT H'm. What I meant was of another order; I spoke figuratively. MOIRA O indeed, sir? PRINCE REGENT She's here. I heard her voice. I'll swear I did! MOIRA Who, sir? PRINCE REGENT Why, the Princess of Wales. Do you think I could mistake those beastly German Ps and Bs of hers?--She asked to come, and was denied; but she's got here, I'll wager ye, through the chair-door in Warwick Street, which I arranged for a few ladies whom I wished to come privately. [He looks about again, and moves till he is by a door which affords a peep up the grand staircase.] By God, Moira, I see TWO figures up there who shouldn't be here--leaning over the balustrade of the gallery! MOIRA Two figures, sir. Whose are they? PRINCE REGENT She is one. The Fitzherbert in t'other! O I am almost sure it is! I would have welcomed her, but she bridled and said she wouldn't sit down at my table as a plain “Mrs.” to please anybody. As I had sworn that on this occasion people should sit strictly according to their rank, I wouldn't give way. Why the devil did she come like this? 'Pon my soul, these women will be the death o' me! MOIRA [looking cautiously up the stairs] I can see nothing of her, sir, nor of the Princess either. There is a crowd of idlers up there leaning over the bannisters, and you may have mistaken some others for them. PRINCE REGENT O no. They have drawn back their heads. There have been such damned mistakes made in sending out the cards that the biggest w--- in London might be here. She's watching Lady Hertford, that's what she's doing. For all their indifference, both of them are as jealous as two cats over the tom. [Somebody whispers that a lady has fainted up-stairs.] That's Maria, I'll swear! She's always doing it. Whenever I hear of some lady fainting about upon the furniture at my presence, and sending for a glass of water, I say to myself, There's Maria at it again, by God! SPIRIT IRONIC Now let him hear their voices once again. [The REGENT starts as he seems to hear from the stairs the tongues of the two ladies growing louder and nearer, the PRINCESS pouring reproaches into one ear, and MRS. FITZHERBERT into the other.] PRINCE REGENT