d-bye" to
visitors of distinction? That ceremony is also performed with
the foot.
PRINCE. Really, this tone--ah, but perhaps you have not
completely grasped the situation?
LUD. Not altogether.
PRINCE. Ah, then I'll give you a lead over.
(Significantly:) I am the father of the Princess of Monte Carlo.
Doesn't that convey any idea to the Grand Ducal mind?
LUD. (stolidly). Nothing definite.
PRINCE (aside). H'm--very odd! Never mind--try again!
(Aloud.) This is the daughter of the Prince of Monte Carlo. Do
you take?
LUD. (still puzzled). No--not yet. Go on--don't give it
up--I dare say it will come presently.
PRINCE. Very odd--never mind--try again. (With sly
significance.) Twenty years ago! Little doddle doddle! Two
little doddle doddles! Happy father--hers and yours. Proud
mother--yours and hers! Hah! Now you take? I see you do! I
see you do!
LUD. Nothing is more annoying than to feel that you're not
equal to the intellectual pressure of the conversation. I wish
he'd say something intelligible.
PRINCE. You didn't expect me?
LUD. (jumping at it). No, no. I grasp that--thank you
very
much. (Shaking hands with him.) No, I did not expect you!
PRINCE. I thought not. But ha! ha! at last I have escaped
from my enforced restraint. (General movement of alarm.) (To
crowd who are stealing off.) No, no--you misunderstand me. I
mean I've paid my debts!
ALL. Oh! (They return.)
PRINCESS (affectionately). But, my darling, I'm afraid
that
even now you don't quite realize who I am! (Embracing him.)
BARONESS. Why, you forward little hussy, how dare you?
(Takes her away from LUDWIG.)
LUD. You mustn't do that, my dear--never in the presence
of
the Grand Duchess, I beg!
PRINCESS (weeping). Oh, papa, he's got a Grand Duchess!
LUD. A Grand Duchess! My good girl, I've got three Grand
Duchesses!
PRINCESS. Well, I'm sure! Papa, let's go away--this is
not
a respectable Court.
PRINCE. All these Grand Dukes have their little fancies,
my
love. This potentate appears to be collecting wives. It's a
pretty hobby--I should like to collect a few myself. This
(admiring BARONESS) is a charming specimen--an antique, I should
say--of the early Merovingian period, if I'm not mistaken; a