his horse--

[_To_ THERESA.]

Since the dear General's death--

THERESA.

The--General's?

MARIA LOUISA.

He'd kept that title.

THERESA.

Ah, I understand!

MARIA LOUISA.

I weep.

THERESA.

That title was his greatest glory.

MARIA LOUISA.

One cannot know at first all one has lost;
And I lost all when General Neipperg died.

THERESA.

Neipperg?

MARIA LOUISA.

I came to Baden for distraction.
It's nice. So near Vienna.--Ah, my dear,
My nerves are troublesome; they say I'm thinner--
And growing very like Madame de Berry.
'Twas Vitrolles said so. Now I do my hair
Like her. Why did not Heaven take me too?
This villa's small, of course; but 'tisn't bad;
Metternich is our guest in passing.

[_She points to the door on the left._]

There.
He leaves to-night. The life at Baden's gay.
We have the Sandors and the pianist Thalberg,
And Montenegro sings to us in Spanish.
Fontana howls an air from _Figaro_.
The wife of the Ambassador of England
And the Archduchess come; we go for drives--
But nothing soothes my grief!--Ah, could the General--!
Of course you're coming to the ball to-night?

THERESA.

Why--

MARIA LOUISA.

At the Meyendorffs'. Strauss will be there.
She must be present, mustn't she, Bombelles?

THERESA.

May I solicit of your Majesty
News of the Duke of Reichstadt?

MARIA LOUISA.

In good health.
He coughs a little; but the air of Baden
Is good for him. He's quite a man. He's reached
The critical hour of entrance in the world!
Oh dear! when I consider he's already
Lieutenant-Colonel! Think how grieved I am
Never to have seen him in his uniform!

[_Enter the_ DOCTOR _and his son, bringing a box._

MARIA LOUISA.

Ah! These must be for him!

THE DOCTOR.

Yes; the collections.

MARIA LOUISA.

Please put them down.

BOMBELLES.

What are they?

THE DOCTOR.

Butterflies.

THERESA.

Butterflies?

MARIA LOUISA.

Yes; when I was visiting
This amiable old man, the local doctor,
I saw his boy arranging these collections.
I sighed aloud, Alas! would but my son,
Whom nothing moves, take interest in these!

THE DOCTOR.

So then I answered, Well, your Majesty,
One never knows. Why not? We can but tr