athe inglorious air;
The crown must slip from off a pear-shaped head.
The youth of France will rally to your side
Merrily shouting songs of Beranger--
The street has shuddered and the pavement trembled,
And Schoenbrunn's not so pretty as Versailles!

THE DUKE.

I will accept.

[_Military music is heard._]

Ha!

FLAMBEAU.

[_At the window._]

In the Court of honor
The trumpets of the Guard. The Emperor
Is coming home.

THE DUKE.

My grandfather! My promise!

[_To_ FLAMBEAU.]

No; before accepting--

FLAMBEAU.

Damn it!

THE DUKE.

Listen!
I must make one attempt with him; but if
When you are here on guard to-night, you see
Something--that you're not used to seeing here--
It is a signal! I will fly.

FLAMBEAU.

Latude!
What will the signal be?

THE DUKE.

You'll see.

FLAMBEAU.

But if--

[_An officer of the Noble Guard enters._]

THE OFFICER.

My Lord--

FLAMBEAU.

[_Taking stock of him._]

The beggars! Aren't they gorgeous swells!

THE DUKE.

Well?

THE OFFICER.

As the Emperor passed, they came and said,
"O Sire, this is the one day in the week
Whereon your Majesty receives his subjects;
Many have come from far--" "I'd thought of it,"
Replied the Emperor, smiling; "and I hope
To see them. I'm at Schoenbrunn as a grandfather,
I shall be with the Duke from five to six:
Let all my children be beside my grandson."
May they come up?

THE DUKE.

Yes! open all the doors!

[_The_ OFFICER _goes out._]

THE DUKE.

[_To_ FLAMBEAU.]

Now quickly make a bundle of these treasures.
I'll look at them at leisure in my room.

FLAMBEAU.

I make the bundle in the handkerchief.
But tell me what the signal is to be.

THE DUKE.

Oh, never fear! you will not fail to know it.
But--do you hear them? That's the Austrian Hymn.

FLAMBEAU.

My word! It isn't worth the Marseillaise!

THE DUKE.

The Marseillaise--well? have you tied the ends?
My father used to say it wore mustachios.

FLAMBEAU.

Their blessed national hymn has scented whiskers.

THE DUKE.

It wouldn't be bad fun to enter France,
Thus, with my bundle on my back, on foot.

FLAMBEAU.

How cheerful and how funny you can be!
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