Clara. She said as soon as the court assembled she would take her place beside me and stay there till we left the palace. The King. Is it possible? Clara. It is _true_. The King. You have conquered her! I know she could be conquered--she has a heart, as well as a head! It is a good omen!--So she offered to do _that_! What will our precious nobility have to say to that? Clara. They are about the streets, aren't they? The King. Ah, then you know? Clara. I know, too, that there has been rioting outside the club. The King. You know that too?--and are not afraid? Clara. Perhaps I might have been--but there is something else that I am more afraid of. (Draws closer to the KING.) The King. What is that? Clara. You know. (A pause.) The King. Have you been uneasy about him to-day too? Clara. All day--incessantly. Something must have happened. The King. Well, now I can tell you where he is. Clara (eagerly). At last! Have you found him? The King. Gran has been to see him. Clara. Thank God! Is it far from here? The King. This evening, immediately after the court, you and I will both start for there in a special train. We shall be there early to-morrow. Clara (throwing her arms round his neck). Thanks, thanks! How good you are! Thanks! How is he? Is he ill! The King. Yes. Clara. I knew it? And implacable? The King. Yes. Clara. I feel it! (Nestles closer in his arms.) The King. Are you afraid? Clara. Yes! The King. Dear, when you see him perhaps your fear will go. Clara. Yes, only let me see him! Whatever he says, let me see him! The King. Within twelve hours from now you shall! And I shall be with you. Clara. The finest thing about you is your kindness. Oh, I am so glad you have come! I could not endure my fears any longer. The King. There are dissensions going on about you! Clara. Oh!--(Nestles in his arms again.) The King. Bear up!--It will soon be over. Clara. I believe it will. Yes, I know it will.--Let me walk about a little! (The KING walks up and down with her.) The King. And turn our thoughts to something else! Do you know where I have come from? Clara. Where? The King. From our little house in the park. Clara. Why, we drove past it yesterday! The King. You will feel only _one_ person's presence there! Wherever you go, you will be surrounded by the thoughts I have had of you there. If you look out of the window, or go out on to the balcony--on every rock, by each turn of the stream--on the lawns, under the trees, among the bushes--everywhere you will find a thousand thoughts of you hidden. Breathe the words "my darling girl," and they will all come clustering round you!--Let us sit down. Clara. It is all like a fairy tale. The King. And I am the latest fairy prince! (He sits down and draws her on to his knee.) And you are the little maid who comes, led by good fairies, to the enchanted castle to wake him. He has been kept asleep by wicked spells for many, many years. Clara. For many, many years!