the_ PRINCESS' _room_] if Princess Wilhelmine--

PRINCE (_excited_).

The Princess?

EVERSMANN.

Sh! You will probably be chosen to conduct the negotiations between
Prussia and--

PRINCE (_beside himself_).

The Princess is--destined--

EVERSMANN.

To be the future Empress of Austria.

[_He goes out into the_ QUEEN'S _room_.]

PRINCE (_alone_).

Empress! Queen! And I--I who love her to desperation, I am to help
bring about either of these alliances? That will mean a tragedy or
[_after a pause he continues more cheerfully_]--Courage--courage--it may
turn out a comedy after all, as merry a comedy as ever was played at any
Royal Court. [_He goes out_.]

ACT II

GRUMBKOW _and_ SECKENDORF _come in with_ EVERSMANN. _The latter carries
a wide orange-colored ribbon with many stars and Orders on it, and a
gleaming sword_.

SCENE I

_The_ KING'S _room. A side door on the left; a centre door. A writing
table and chairs_.

GRUMBKOW.

It was a dispatch, you say, Eversmann?

SECKENDORF.

A dispatch from Hanover.

GRUMBKOW.

And all this elegance? The ribbon? The sword of state? What does it
mean?

EVERSMANN.

His Majesty ordered these immediately after the arrival of the dispatch.

SECKENDORF.

A dispatch from Hanover--arrived about an hour ago--_grand cordon_
commanded--sword of state--we must put these facts together,
Grumbkow--find their meaning.

EVERSMANN.

There are to be twelve plates more at table today. [_Meaningfully_.]
Thirty-six thalers are set aside for the dinner--everybody to appear in
full court dress.

SECKENDORF.

A dispatch from Hanover-_grand cordon_--sword of state--twelve plates
extra--thirty-six thalers--the combination, Grumbkow--we must find the
combination!

EVERSMANN.

When he had torn the seal from the dispatch, he wept two big tears and
said: "I'll make them all happy if I have to beat them to a jelly to do
it." And now he's all eagerness and would like to invite the whole city
to dinner.

GRUMBKOW.

On thirty-six thalers?

EVERSMANN.

The orphans in the asylum are to have new clothes.

GRUMBKOW (_startled_).

The orphans? That looks like a wedding.

SECKENDORF.

Dispatch--Hanover--thirty-six thalers--two tears--beat them all--the
meaning of that, Grumbkow?--we must put two and two together and find
it.

EVERSMANN (_startled_).

He's coming! The King!

SCENE II

_The_ KING _looks in from the side door_.

KING.

Good m