DUKE.

[_Blowing the dust off the pencil._]

Why, eighteen hundred and five.

OBENAUS.

I beg your pardon,
I thought you meant--h'm--Destiny
Was cruel to the righteous cause. We'll cast
Only a fleeting glance at hapless hours.
When the philosopher with pensive gaze--

THE DUKE.

And so in eighteen five, sir, nothing happened?

OBENAUS.

A great event, my Lord! I had forgotten.
The restoration of the Calendar.
A little later, having challenged England,
Spain--

THE DUKE.

[_Demurely._]

And the Emperor?

OBENAUS.

Which Emp--?

THE DUKE.

My father.

OBENAUS.

He--he--

THE DUKE.

Had he not left Boulogne?

OBENAUS.

Oh, yes.

THE DUKE.

Where was he, then?

OBENAUS.

Well, as it happened, here.

THE DUKE.

[_With mock amazement._]

Indeed?

DIETRICHSTEIN.

[_Hastily._]

He took great interest in Bavaria!

OBENAUS.

Your father's wishes in the Pressburg Treaty,
As far as that went, chimed with those of Austria.

THE DUKE.

What was the Pressburg Treaty?

OBENAUS.

The agreement
Which closed an era.

THE DUKE.

There! I've smashed my point!

OBENAUS.

In eighteen hundred and seven--

THE DUKE.

So soon? How quick!
Strange epoch! Nothing happened in it!

OBENAUS.

Yes.
For instance, take the House of the Braganzas:
The King--

THE DUKE.

The Emperor, sir?

OBENAUS.

Which Emp--?

THE DUKE.

Of France.

OBENAUS.

Nothing of any consequence till eighteen-eight.
Yet let us note the Treaty of Tilsit.

THE DUKE.

Was nothing done but making treaties?

OBENAUS.

Europe--

THE DUKE.

I see. A general survey?

OBENAUS.

I'll come to details
When we've--

THE DUKE.

Did nothing happen?

OBENAUS.

Well--

THE DUKE.

Well, what?

OBENAUS.

I--

THE DUKE.

What? What happened? Won't you tell me?

OBENAUS.

Well--