_The Imperial chair and Baldachin._ _The two portraits represent a lady and a gentleman, both young, dressed up in carnival costumes: one as "Henry IV." the other as the "Marchioness Matilda of Tuscany." Exits to Right and Left._ (_When the curtain goes up, the two valets jump down, as if surprised, from the stand on which they have been lying, and go and take their positions, as rigid as statues, on either side below the throne with their halberds in their hands. Soon after, from the second exit, right, enter Harold, Landolph, Ordulph and Berthold, young men employed by the Marquis Charles Di Nolli to play the part of "Secret Counsellors" at the court of "Henry IV." They are, therefore, dressed like German knights of the XIth century. Berthold, nicknamed Fino, is just entering on his duties for the first time. His companions are telling him what he has to do and amusing themselves at his expense. The scene is to be played rapidly and vivaciously_). LANDOLPH (_to Berthold as if explaining_). And this is the throne room. HAROLD. At Goslar. ORDULPH. Or at the castle in the Hartz, if you prefer. HAROLD. Or at Wurms. LANDOLPH. According as to what's doing, it jumps about with us, now here, now there. ORDULPH. In Saxony. HAROLD. In Lombardy. LANDOLPH. On the Rhine. ONE OF THE VALETS (_without moving, just opening his lips_). I say.... HAROLD (_turning round_). What is it? FIRST VALET (_like a statue_). Is he coming in or not? (_He alludes to Henry IV._) ORDULPH. No, no, he's asleep. You needn't worry. SECOND VALET (_releasing his pose, taking a long breath and going to lie down again on the stand_). You might have told us at once. FIRST VALET (_going over to Harold_). Have you got a match, please? LANDOLPH. What? You can't smoke a pipe here, you know. FIRST VALET (_while Harold offers him a light_). No; a cigarette. (_Lights his cigarette and lies down again on the stand_). BERTHOLD (_who has been looking on in amazement, walking round the room, regarding the costumes of the others_). I say ... this room ... these costumes.... Which Henry IV. is it? I don't quite get it. Is he Henry IV. of France or not? (_At this Landolph, Harold, and Ordulph, burst out laughing_). LANDOLPH (_still laughing; and pointing to Berthold as if inviting the others to make fun of him_). Henry of France he says: ha! ha! ORDULPH. He thought it was the king of France! HAROLD. Henry IV. of Germany, my boy: the Salian dynasty! ORDULPH. The great and tragic Emperor! LANDOLPH. He of Canossa. Every day we carry on here the terrible war between Church and State, by Jove. ORDULPH. The Empire against the Papacy! HAROLD. Antipopes against the Pope!