eted negotiation in which
all the nearest relatives of our house have already taken part, and into
the nature of which I now initiate you, too, as my son's friend. My
daughter is to become the wife of my nephew, the Prince of Wales; she
will therefore be the future Queen of England.

PRINCE (_aside_).

Zounds! A nice rival this!

QUEEN.

So you see, Prince, the importance of the issue involved! Will you
consent to mediate this question--a question of such importance to all
Europe--with my husband?

PRINCE.

I? With the King? Mediate? Oh, of course, Your Majesty, with the
greatest pleasure! [_Aside_.] What a detestable errand!

QUEEN.

Very well, then you can begin at once. The King will be here shortly.
Introduce yourself to him. Use this favorable moment to draw from him an
expression of his opinion concerning the throne of England, and let me
know the result at once.

PRINCE.

I am still quite bewildered by this--this flattering commission. And
when may I pay my respects to Your Majesty again?

QUEEN.

At almost any time. But I should prefer the evening hours, when those on
whom I can rely gather around me, while the King is with those persons
whom I mentioned a short time ago. Farewell now, my dear Prince of--oh,
dear me, now my son has forgotten to write me whether it is Ansbach or
Baireuth that you inherit. It is so easy to confuse these little
principalities. Ansbach--Baireuth--Ansbach--yes, that was it. Very well,
my dear Prince of Ansbach, remember, Prussia, Hanover and England!

[_She bows to him with proud condescension and goes out_.]

SCENE VI

PRINCE (_alone_).

The future Queen of England! And I--the Hereditary Prince of Ansbach!
That was a cruel blow of fate. And I am to mediate these matters of
international importance! This angelic being, whom I love more madly
with every breath I draw--this exquisite sister of my dear
Frederick--is destined to become a victim of political intrigue? Oh no,
she cannot possibly love the Prince of Wales; she has never seen him.
But will they consult her inclination? Will cold considerations of
politics heed the cry of her heart?--The parade is over, the suite is
entering the castle; I dare not meet the king now in this excited mood.

[_He looks about as if seeking some means of escape_. EVERSMANN _comes
in carrying a large book. He has a pen stuck in behind one ear. He
crosses to the door through which the_ QUEEN _has gone out_.]

PRINCE (_asi