FIRST SERVANT. For that very purpose I am always having something to do behind Illo's chair. He is the man for speeches to make you stare with. MASTER OF THE CELLAR (to NEUMANN). Who, pray, may that swarthy man be, he with the cross, that is chatting so confidently with Esterhats? NEUMANN. Ay, he too is one of those to whom they confide too much. He calls himself Maradas; a Spaniard is he. MASTER OF THE CELLAR (impatiently). Spaniard! Spaniard! I tell you, friend, nothing good comes of those Spaniards. All these outlandish fellows are little better than rogues. NEUMANN. Fy, fy! you should not say so, friend. There are among them our very best generals, and those on whom the duke at this moment relies the most. MASTER OF THE CELLAR. [Taking the flask out of RUNNER'S pocket. My son, it will be broken to pieces in your pocket. [TERZKY hurries in, fetches away the paper, and calls to a servant for pen and ink, and goes to the back of the stage. MASTER OF THE CELLAR (to the SERVANTS). The lieutenant-general stands up. Be on the watch. Now! They break up. Off, and move back the forms. [They rise at all the tables, the SERVANTS hurry off the front of the stage to the tables; part of the guests come forward. SCENE VI. OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI enters, in conversation with MARADAS, and both place themselves quite on the edge of the stage on one side of the proscenium. On the side directly opposite, MAX. PICCOLOMINI, by himself, lost in thought, and taking no part in anything that is going forward. The middle space between both, but rather more distant from the edge of the stage, is filled up by BUTLER, ISOLANI, GOETZ, TIEFENBACH, and KOLATTO. ISOLANI (while the company is coming forward). Good-night, good-night, Kolatto! Good-night, lieutenant-general! I should rather say good-morning. GOETZ (to TIEFENBACH). Noble brother! (making the usual compliment after meals). TIEFENBACH. Ay! 'twas a royal feast indeed. GOETZ. Yes, my lady countess understands these matters. Her mother-in-law, heaven rest her soul, taught her! Ah! that was a housewife for you! TIEFENBACH. There was not her like in all Bohemia for setting out a table. OCTAVIO (aside to MARADAS). Do me the favor to talk to me--talk of what you will--or of nothing. Only preserve the appearance at least of talking. I would not wish to stand by myself, and yet I conjecture that there will be goings on here worthy of our attentive observation. (He continues to fix his eye on the whole following scene.) ISOLANI (on the point of going). Lights! lights! TERZKY (advances with the paper to ISOLANI). Noble brother; two minutes longer! Here is something to subscribe. ISOLANI. Subscribe as much as you like--but you must excuse me from reading it. TERZKY. There is no need. It is the oath which you have already read. Only a few marks of your pen! [ISOLANI hands over the paper to OCTAVIO respectfully.