Her wanting to join the Ursuline Sisters rather than marry that nice young fellow, to whom she was as good as engaged already--and then up and away from home all at once--you might call that morbid, don't you think? PRINCE What has put you in mind of that ancient story to-day? COUNT Ancient, you say? I feel as if it happened last year only. It was at the very time when my own affair with Lolo had just begun. Ah, harking back like that...! And if anybody had foretold me at the time...! You know, it really began like any ordinary adventure. In the same reckless, crazy way. Yes, crazy--that's it. Not that I want to make myself out worse than I am, but it was lucky for all of us that my poor wife had already been dead a couple of years. Lolo seemed ... my fate. Mistress and wife at the same time. Because she's such a wonderful cook, you know. And the way she makes you comfortable. And always in good humor--never a cross word.... Well, it's all over. Don't let us talk of it.... (_Pause_) Tell me, won't you stay for lunch? And I must call Mizzie. PRINCE (_checking him_) Wait--I have something to tell you. (_Casually, almost facetiously_) I want you to be prepared. COUNT Why? For what? PRINCE There is a young man coming here to be introduced. COUNT (_astonished_) What? A young man? PRINCE If you have no objection. COUNT Why should I object? But who is he? PRINCE Dear Arpad--he's my son. COUNT (_greatly surprised_) What? PRINCE Yes, my son. You see, I didn't want--as I'm going away.... COUNT Your son? You've got a son? PRINCE I have. COUNT Well, did you ever...! You have got a young man who is your son--or rather, you have got a son who is a young man. How old? PRINCE Seventeen. COUNT Seventeen! And you haven't told me before! No, Egon ... Egon! And tell me ... seventeen...? My dear chap, then your wife was still alive.... PRINCE Yes, my wife was still alive at the time. You see, Arpad, one gets mixed up in all sorts of strange affairs. COUNT 'Pon my soul, so it seems! PRINCE And thus, one fine day, you find yourself having a son of seventeen with whom you go traveling. COUNT So it's with him you are going away? PRINCE I am taking that liberty. COUNT No, I couldn't possibly tell you.... Why, he has got a son of seventeen!... (_Suddenly he grasps the hand of the Prince, and then puts his arms about him_) And if I may ask ... the mother of that young gentleman, your son ... how it happens ... as you have started telling me.... PRINCE She's dead long ago. Died a couple of weeks after he was born. A mere slip of a girl. COUNT Of the common people? PRINCE Oh, of course. But a charming creature. I may as well tell you everything about it. That is, as far as I can recall it myself. The whole story seems like a dream. And if it were not for the boy.... COUNT And all that you tell me only now! To-day only--just before the boy is coming here! PRINCE You never can tell how a thing like that may be received.