So Joseph can do what he pleases this afternoon. That's--oh, see that Franz gives the nag a good rubbing down. We got a little excited this morning--both of us. VALET (_goes out_) COUNT (_sits down on the garden seat, picks up a newspaper from the table and begins to read_) GARDENER (_enters_) Good morning, Your Grace. COUNT Morning, Peter. What's up? GARDENER With Your Grace's permission, I have just cut the tea roses. COUNT Why all that lot? GARDENER The bush is full up. It ain't wise, Your Grace, to leave 'em on the stem much longer. If maybe Your Grace could find some use.... COUNT Haven't got any. Why do you stand there looking at me? I'm not going to the city. I won't need any flowers. Why don't you put them in some of those vases and things that are standing about in there? Quite the fashion nowadays, isn't it? (_He takes the bunch of flowers from the gardener and inhales their fragrance while he seems to be pondering something_) Wasn't that a carriage that stopped here? GARDENER That's His Highness' pair of blacks. I know 'em by their step. COUNT Thanks very much then. (_He hands back the roses_) PRINCE (_comes in by the gate_) COUNT (_goes to meet him_) GARDENER Good morning, Your Highness. PRINCE Hello, Peter. GARDENER (_goes out toward the right_) PRINCE (_wears a light-colored Summer suit; is fifty-five, but doesn't look it; tall and slender; his manner of speech suggests the diplomat, who is as much at home in French as in his native tongue_) COUNT Delighted, old chap. How goes it? PRINCE Thanks. Splendid day. COUNT (_offers him one of his gigantic cigars_) PRINCE No, thank you, not before lunch. Only one of my own cigarettes, if you permit. (_He takes a cigarette from his case and lights it_) COUNT So you've found time to drop in at last. Do you know how long you haven't been here? Three weeks. PRINCE (_glancing toward the balcony_) Really that long? COUNT What is it that makes you so scarce? PRINCE You mustn't mind. But you are right, of course. And even to-day I come only to say good-by. COUNT What--good-by? PRINCE I shall be off to-morrow. COUNT You're going away? Where? PRINCE The sea shore. And you--have you made any plans yet? COUNT I haven't given a thought to it yet--this year. PRINCE Well, of course, it's wonderful right here--with your enormous park. But you have to go somewhere later in the Summer? COUNT Don't know yet. But it's all one. PRINCE What's wrong now? COUNT Oh, my dear old friend, it's going downhill. PRINCE How? That's a funny way of talking, Arpad. What do you mean by downhill? COUNT One grows old, Egon. PRINCE Yes, and gets accustomed to it. COUNT What do you know about it--you who are five years younger? PRINCE Six almost. But at fifty-five the springtime of life is pretty well over. Well--one gets resigned to it. COUNT You have always been something of a philosopher, old chap. PRINCE