BELCREDI. I tell you the idea was mine! There's nothing to be proud of in it, seeing what the result's been. Look here, doctor, it was like this. One evening, in the first days of November, I was looking at an illustrated German review in the club. I was merely glancing at the pictures, because I can't read German. There was a picture of the Kaiser, at some University town where he had been a student ... I don't remember which. DOCTOR. Bonn, Bonn! BELCREDI. --You are right: Bonn! He was on horseback, dressed up in one of those ancient German student guild-costumes, followed by a procession of noble students, also in costume. The picture gave me the idea. Already some one at the club had spoken of a pageant for the forthcoming carnival. So I had the notion that each of us should choose for this Tower of Babel pageant to represent some character: a king, an emperor, a prince, with his queen, empress, or lady, alongside of him--and all on horseback. The suggestion was at once accepted. DONNA MATILDA. I had my invitation from Belassi. BELCREDI. Well, he wasn't speaking the truth! That's all I can say, if he told you the idea was his. He wasn't even at the club the evening I made the suggestion, just as he (_meaning Henry IV._) wasn't there either. DOCTOR. So he chose the character of Henry IV.? DONNA MATILDA. Because I ... thinking of my name, and not giving the choice any importance, said I would be the Marchioness Matilda of Tuscany. DOCTOR. I ... don't understand the relation between the two. DONNA MATILDA. --Neither did I, to begin with, when he said that in that case he would be at my feet like Henry IV. at Canossa. I had heard of Canossa of course; but to tell the truth, I'd forgotten most of the story; and I remember I received a curious impression when I had to get up my part, and found that I was the faithful and zealous friend of Pope Gregory VII. in deadly enmity with the Emperor of Germany. Then I understood why, since I had chosen to represent his implacable enemy, he wanted to be near me in the pageant as Henry IV. DOCTOR. Ah, perhaps because.... BELCREDI. --Good Heavens, doctor, because he was then paying furious court to her (_indicates the Marchioness_)! And she, naturally.... DONNA MATILDA. Naturally? Not naturally at all.... BELCREDI (_pointing to her_). She couldn't stand him.... DONNA MATILDA. --No, that isn't true! I didn't dislike him. Not at all! But for me, when a man begins to want to be taken seriously, well.... BELCREDI (_continuing for her_). He gives you the clearest proof of his stupidity. DONNA MATILDA. No dear; not in this case; because he was never a fool like you. BELCREDI. Anyway, I've never asked you to take me seriously.