THE DUKE.

All is lost!

[_Enter_ METTERNICH.]

THE EMPEROR.

It is my will this child shall reign.

METTERNICH.

Delightful.
I'll tell your partisans at once.

THE DUKE.

I feared.

THE EMPEROR.

What should you fear? Am I not master here?

THE DUKE.

Whom will you send me as Ambassador?

METTERNICH.

Delightful.

THE DUKE.

And you'll visit me in state?

THE EMPEROR.

Yes, very likely; when the chambers rise.

METTERNICH.

We'll only ask some trifling guarantees.

THE DUKE.

Ask what you like.

THE EMPEROR.

Well? are you happy?

METTERNICH.

First
We'll come to terms on trivial points of detail:
Certain seditious groups should be dissolved:
Our neighbors must not harbor thunderbolts.

THE DUKE.

Dear grandfather!

METTERNICH.

Ah--then we're very weary
Of hearing of the Heroes of July.

THE DUKE.

But--

METTERNICH.

Now the imperialists and radicals
Are linked: we'll cut the link; we cannot favor
The dangerous modern spirit. We'll expel
Lammenais.

THE DUKE.

But--

METTERNICH.

And Chateaubriand. Ah--
We'll also put a muzzle on the press.

THE DUKE.

Oh, there's no hurry.

THE EMPEROR.

Pardon me, there is.

THE DUKE.

Pardon me, that's attacking freedom.

THE EMPEROR.

Freedom!

METTERNICH.

Ah--we must have free hand in Italy.
Ah--not so much excitement about Poland.

THE DUKE.

Ah? And what else?

METTERNICH.

Well, we shall have to solve
The question of the names. You know, the names
Of battles, Sire, which you--well--did not win:
The Marshals must not wear them.

THE DUKE.

What is that?

THE EMPEROR.

Perhaps--

METTERNICH.

Forgive me; but they must not think
They're lords of Austrian places; and you cannot
Approve their way of carrying off to France
Our villages by means of upstart titles.

THE DUKE.

Grandfather! Grandfather!

THE EMPEROR.

Well--it's evident--

THE DUKE.

Yet you and I were in each other's arms!

[_To_ METTERNICH.]

And have you nothing further to demand?

METTERNICH.

Yes; the sup