GEN. Why, five years ago, when I was a plain Colonel, I remember her, your Highness, a common waiting girl in an inn. If I had known then what she was going to turn out, I would have flogged her to death on the roadside. She is not a woman at all; she is a sort of devil! For the last eighteen months I have been hunting her, and caught sight of her once last September outside Odessa. ALEX. How did you let her go, General? GEN. I was by myself, and she shot one of my horses just as I was gaining on her. If I see her again I shan't miss my chance. The Emperor has put twenty thousand roubles on her head. ALEX. I hope you will get it, General; but meanwhile you are frightening these honest people out of their wits, and disturbing the tragedy. Good night, General. GEN. Yes; but I should like to see their faces, your Highness. ALEX. No, General; you must not ask that; you know how these gipsies hate to be stared at. GEN. Yes. But, your Highness-- ALEX. (_haughtily_). General, they are my friends, that is enough. And, General, not a word of this little adventure here, you understand. I shall rely on you. GEN. I shall not forget, Prince. But shall we not see you back to the palace? The State ball is almost over and you are expected. ALEX. I shall be there; but I shall return alone. Remember, not a word about my strolling players. GEN. Or your pretty gipsy, eh, Prince? your pretty gipsy! I' faith, I should like to see her before I go; she has such fine eyes through her mask. Well, good night, your Highness; good night. ALEX. Good night, General. (_Exit GENERAL and the soldiers._) VERA (_throwing off her mask_). Saved! and by you! ALEX. (_clasping her hand_). Brothers, you trust me now? TABLEAU. END OF ACT I. ACT II. SCENE.--_Council Chamber in the Emperor's Palace, hung with yellow tapestry. Table, with chair of State, set for the Czar; window behind, opening on to a balcony. As the scene progresses the light outside gets darker._ _Present._--PRINCE PAUL MARALOFFSKI, PRINCE PETROVITCH, COUNT ROUVALOFF, BARON RAFF, COUNT PETOUCHOF. PRINCE PETRO. So our young scatter-brained Czarevitch has been forgiven at last, and is to take his seat here again. PRINCE PAUL. Yes; if that is not meant as an extra punishment. For my own part, at least, I find these Cabinet Councils extremely exhausting. PRINCE PETRO. Naturally; you are always speaking. PRINCE PAUL. No; I think it must be that I have to listen sometimes. COUNT R. Still, anything is better than being kept in a sort of prison, like he was--never allowed to go out into the world. PRINCE PAUL. My dear Count, for romantic young people like he is, the world always looks best at a distance; and a prison where one's allowed to order one's own dinner is not at all a bad place. (_Enter the CZAREVITCH. The courtiers rise._) Ah! good afternoon, Prince. Your Highness is looking a little pale to-day. CZARE. (_slowly, after a pause_). I want change of air.