Well, good-night.

THE COUNTESS.

Ah, Madam--How--?

THE ARCHDUCHESS.

Why don't you kiss my hand?

[_The_ COUNTESS _goes out._]

A MASK.

The Duke already gone?

ANOTHER.

He's whimsical.

THE DUKE.

[_Meaningly, to the_ ARCHDUCHESS.]

Your hand--as to the Duke?

THE ARCHDUCHESS.

Yes, gentle mask.

GENTZ.

And now--

SEVERAL.

Again?

GENTZ.

One word---

VOICES.

Oh, go ahead!

GENTZ.

I wanted to complete my little toast,
But while the Duke was here I couldn't name
The proudest title Metternich can boast of;
But now we're rid of him, I have the honor:--
Ladies and gentlemen, here's the destroyer
Of Bonaparte!

ALL.

Hurrah!--To the Destroyer!

THE DUKE.

[_To_ FLAMBEAU.]

What are you doing?

FLAMBEAU.

[_Who is pouring his wine into his gun-barrel_.]

Lest it might go off!

A MASK.

This Bonaparte--

SECOND MASK.

Wasn't marble.

THIRD MASK.

Stucco.

THE DUKE.

What!

FLAMBEAU.

Have a care! An Empire is at stake!

A MASK.

Much overpraised--

FLAMBEAU.

Take care!

TIBURTIUS.

A middling soldier,
But then he rode a camel while in Egypt;
What more do you want?

A MASK.

Gentz imitates him.

FLAMBEAU.

Lord!

ANOTHER MASK.

Do it!

FLAMBEAU.

[_To the_ DUKE.]

Remember, you're not here at all!

GENTZ.

[_Arranging his hair, and striking the conventional attitude._]

Curl--eye--hand--There!

FLAMBEAU.

Old fool!

THE DUKE.

He mocks him, yet
Even the mockery's great, for it evokes him.

TIBURTIUS.

You know he used to tumble off his horse?

FLAMBEAU.

That's what the Ultras always said about him.

A MASK.

His talk was poor.

FLAMBEAU.

Go on!

THE DUKE.

Oh, that's the rule.
What could these worms and insects talk about
If they had not the eagle to abuse?

TIBURTIUS.

His name was not Napoleon at all.

FLAMBEAU.

What!

TIBURTIUS.

That was manufactured. It's so simple!
You want to make a sounding nam