his home, this Bonaparte!
And that by turning, on the threshold--there--
I should behold the Grenadier on--

[_He starts on seeing_ FLAMBEAU _standing rigid
before the_ DUKE'S _door; he rubs his eyes._]

Ha!
No! no! I'm feverish; my _tete-a-tete_
With the old hat plays havoc with my nerves!

[_He looks and draws near._ FLAMBEAU _does not
move._]

Or have the moonbeams conjured up a spectre?
What is it, then? Let's see--let's see--let's see!

[_He strides furiously toward_ FLAMBEAU.]

Who are you, fellow?

FLAMBEAU.

[_Presenting his bayonet._]

Who goes there?

METTERNICH.

[_Recoiling._]

The devil!

FLAMBEAU.

[_Coldly._]

Pass, devil.

METTERNICH.

[_With a forced laugh, coming toward him again._]

Yes,--a very clever jest,
But--

FLAMBEAU.

[_Presenting his bayonet again._]

Who goes there?

METTERNICH.

[_Recoiling._]

But--

FLAMBEAU.

Move and you are dead.

METTERNICH.

But--I--

FLAMBEAU.

Quiet!

METTERNICH.

Let me pass!

FLAMBEAU.

The Emperor sleeps!

METTERNICH.

What!

FLAMBEAU.

Silence!

METTERNICH.

I'm the Austrian Chancellor!
I am all-powerful! I'm--

FLAMBEAU.

Shut your mouth!

METTERNICH.

I want to see the Duke of Reichstadt!

FLAMBEAU.

Out!

METTERNICH.

How--out?

FLAMBEAU.

What's Reichstadt? Never heard of Reichstadt!
Auerstadt, Elchingen, they're dukes I know.
Reichstadt's no duke. There's been no victory there.

METTERNICH.

But, we're at Schoenbrunn!

FLAMBEAU.

I should rather think so!
Thanks to our new success we're quartered here;
And here we're getting ready at our leisure
To give the world another drubbing! See?

METTERNICH.

What's that you say? A new success?

FLAMBEAU.

Colossal!

METTERNICH.

This is July the ninth in Eighteen--

FLAMBEAU.

Nine!

METTERNICH.

Can I be mad?

FLAMBEAU.

Who are you? Where d'you spring from?
Why aren't you snug in bed? It's very fishy--

METTERNICH.

I--

FLAMBEAU.