His Highness asks if you'll see him. AMADEUS What highness? CHAMBERMAID His Highness, the Prince Lohsenstein. AMADEUS (_rising_) What? GOVERNESS Come, Peter--we'll go back and play in the summer-house. (_She goes out with Peter_) AMADEUS (_with dignity_) Tell the Prince.... (_Turning away from her_) One moment, please. (_To himself_) What can that mean...? (_Abruptly_) Ask him to come in. CHAMBERMAID (_goes out_) AMADEUS (_walks quickly to and fro, but stops at some distance from the door when Sigismund enters_) SIGISMUND (_is slender, blonde, twenty-six, elegantly dressed, but appears in no respect foppish; he bows to Amadeus_) Good-morning. AMADEUS (_takes a few steps forward to meet him and nods politely_) SIGISMUND (_looks around a little shyly, but wholly free from any ridiculous embarrassment; his manner is in every respect dignified; there is a slight smile on his face_) We have not seen each other for some time, and you'll probably assume that my visit to-day has a special reason. AMADEUS Naturally. (_Pointing to a chair_) Please. SIGISMUND Thank you. (_He comes nearer, but remains standing_) I have decided to take this step--which has not come easy to me, I can assure you--because I find the situation in which we ... in which all of us have been placed, untenable and, in a certain sense, ridiculous ... and because I think that, in one way or another, it should be brought to an end. The sole object of my visit is to put before you a proposition. AMADEUS I'm listening. SIGISMUND I don't want to waste any words. My proposition is that you get a divorce from your wife. AMADEUS (_shrinks back for a moment, staring at Sigismund; then, after a pause he says calmly_) You wish to marry Cecilia? SIGISMUND There is nothing I wish more eagerly. AMADEUS And what is the attitude of Cecilia toward your intentions? SIGISMUND Not encouraging so far. AMADEUS (_puzzled_) Cecilia is absolutely in a position to decide for herself. And of course, she would also have the right to leave me--whenever and howsoever it might please her to do so. For that reason you must pardon me if I find the object of your visit incomprehensible, to say the least. SIGISMUND You'll soon find it comprehensible, I think. The discouraging attitude of Mrs. Adams-Ortenburg proves nothing at all in this connection, I must say. As long as Mrs. Adams-Ortenburg has not been set free by you--even if that be done against her own will--she is, in a sense, bound to you. To get this matter fully cleared up, it seems to me necessary that you yourself, my dear Master, insist on a divorce. Mrs. Adams-Ortenburg will not be in a position to choose freely until she has been divorced from you. Until then the struggle between us two will not be on equal terms--as, I trust, you would like to have it. AMADEUS