rs stand about perfectly limp, enjoying
their indifference._]

DUCHESS

I am present. [_half turning_] Kindly acquaint her Majesty with that
fact.

A LADY

[_Starts to courtesy, but suddenly remembers that she doesn't
have to._]

Very well, you can wait here.

[_The DUCHESS looks at her with incredulous amazement. Suddenly
the voice of the QUEEN is heard._]

QUEEN

Is that the Duchess?

THE LADY

It is, your Majesty.

QUEEN

Tell her to wait where she is. I shall be with her presently.
Meanwhile you may disperse without formalities.

LADY

Your Majesty is obeyed.

[_She comes back into the room and together with all the rest
gazes insolently at the DUCHESS as they file out. The DUCHESS
stands, staring frigidly ahead of her and looking supremely
beautiful._]

DUCHESS [_clenching her hands slightly_]

Fools! They would look better without their heads.

[_Enter the QUEEN, looking extremely pale and serious, evidently
on the verge of some personal climax._]

QUEEN

My sister.

DUCHESS

Your Majesty?

[_They bow formally to one another, then remain silent a
little._]

QUEEN

O, what is the sense of trying to carry a meeting like this off? I
have been too astonished lately to hold on to my _savoir faire_. Here
are my explosions in a nutshell. The announcement that the clown
Gwymplane is the Prince of Vaucluse I am satisfied is authentic. He is
in consequence your _fiance_.

DUCHESS [_losing her wits in a temper_]

You must be mad to suppose I should really marry with a mountebank, a
deformity, no matter what he has been born.

QUEEN

Evidently you forget the position you enjoy entails implicit
obedience.

[_The DUCHESS is about to break out._]

Please don't be banal. I couldn't bear to hear you say that your life
was slavery. Your life is merely idiotic. Slaves were sturdy,
magnificent people who understood massage, and you look as if a powder
puff could blast you off the earth.

DUCHESS

You hate me!

QUEEN

But you know that I knew you knew that.

DUCHESS

When Charles comes, or perhaps you don't permit him to come--possibly
it would annoy you to see the anguish he will be in over me.

QUEEN

Vain people have the most curious faith in the unselfishness of
everybody else. Ah, here comes the bone of contention, looking
remarkably bright.

[_Enter PRINCE. He bends over the QUEEN'S hand and