S VOICE.

Well, that's all right. Good-night.

FLAMBEAU.

Good-night!

[_He throws off his livery coat. Puts on the busby,
which is standing on the console, and shoulders
the musket. He is now in the full accoutrement
of a Grenadier of the Guards._]

And thus,
Suddenly upright, thin, unliveried,
Locked in till dawn, and safe against surprise,
Glowering with grizzled brows beneath his busby,
Straight in his ancient uniform, his gun
Firm in his arm, his hand on his right nipple,
The fixed and regulation attitude,
Standing thus every night before your threshold,
Giving himself a password full of pride,
Pleased with a deed that's grave, and yet a jest,
A Grenadier at Schoenbrunn stands on guard
About the son as once about the Father.
'Tis the last time! You'll never hear of it.
'Tis for myself. A private luxury.
I must be mad to do a thing like this
For no one's eye, but just to say "By Jove,
That's rather good!" At Schoenbrunn! In their teeth!
But I'm delighted!--I'm content!

[_He hears the noise of a key in the door._]

I'm damned!

[_The door opens gently._]

Who can have got the key?

[_He retires into the shadow by the_ DUKE'S _door._]

[METTERNICH _enters, carrying a large candelabrum._]

METTERNICH.

No, no! This scene
Must never be repeated.

FLAMBEAU.

Nepomuk!

METTERNICH.

Yes, I will speak to-night. We are alone.

[_As he puts down the candelabrum he sees the hat._]

What's this? I never knew he had one like--
Ah! the Archduchess must have sent him this;
So there thou art, thou legendary hat!
'Tis many years--Good day!--What sayst thou? What?
No, from thy little sable pyramid
Twelve years of splendor gaze on me in vain,
I do not fear thee now.
The leathern tag
With which he constantly could take thee off,
And so win cheers yet leave thy shape unharmed.
With thee he fanned himself after each victory;
Thou couldst not fall from his unheeding fingers,
But straight a king would stoop to pick thee up.
To-day, my friend, thou art a reach-me-down,
And if I tossed thee through the casement yonder
Where wouldst thou end thy days?

FLAMBEAU.

[_To himself._] In a museum!

METTERNICH.

The famous little hat--how very ugly!
They called it little--is