Riis. Good morning, ladies! Good morning! Mrs. Riis. Good morning! Riis. Here is the latest great piece of news for you: Who do you think drove me from the palace? Christensen! Mrs. Riis. Really? Riis. Yes! Our wrathful friend of yesterday! Yes! He and one of my fellow-directors. I was one of the first persons he greeted when he got to the palace. He introduced me to people, chatted with me--paid me the most marked attention! Mrs. Riis. You don't mean it? Riis. Consequently nothing really happened here yesterday! No gloves were thrown about at all, least of all in his eldest son's face! Christensen, the worthy knight of to-day's making, feels the necessity for peace! We ended by drinking a bottle of champagne at my brother's. Mrs. Riis. How amusing! Riis. Therefore, ladies--smiles, if you please! Nothing has happened here, absolutely nothing! We begin again with an absolutely clean slate, without a smear upon it! Mrs. Riis. What a piece of luck! Riis. Yes, isn't it! That rather violent outburst of our daughter's has unburdened her mind and cleared the ideas in other people's heads. The general atmosphere is agreeably clear, not to say favourable. Mrs. Riis. And what was it like at the palace? Riis. Well, I can tell you this--when I looked round at our batch of new-fledged knights, it did not exactly impress me that it is virtue that is rewarded in this world of ours. However, we were all confronted with an alarmingly solemn document. It was about something we swore to preserve--I fancy it was the State--or perhaps the Church--I am really not sure, because I didn't read it. They all signed it! Mrs. Riis. You, as well? Riis. I, as well. Do you suppose I was going to be left out of such good company? Up at those exalted heights one obtains a happier and freer outlook upon life. We were all friends up there. People came up and congratulated me--and after a bit I wasn't sure whether it was on my daughter's account or on my own; and, what is more, I never knew I had so many friends in the town, let alone at Court! But in such brilliant company and such an atmosphere of praises and compliments and general amiability, one was not inclined to be particular! And there were only men present! You know--you ladies must excuse me--there is sometimes a peculiar charm in being only with men, especially on great occasions like that. Conversation becomes more pointed, more actual, more robust--and laughter more full of zest. Men seem to understand one another almost without the need of words. Mrs. Riis. I suppose you are feeling very happy to-day, then?