I will now take the straight
road into the very jaws of the lion. What else remains? Betrayed by
Hotham, there is naught but Wilhelmine's love--and my own courage.

[_He goes toward the_ KING'S _door._]

SCENE VII

EVERSMANN _comes from the_ KING'S _room._

EVERSMANN.

Whither, Your Highness?

PRINCE.

To the King.

EVERSMANN.

You will find him very angry.

PRINCE.

Angry at whom?

EVERSMANN.

Angry at you, Prince.

PRINCE.

You are joking!

EVERSMANN.

The Duke of Weissenfels is to undertake the mission to Vienna.

PRINCE.

What does that mean?

EVERSMANN.

Investigation by the Attorney-General--just come to the King's ears.
The man _was_ a wigmaker.

PRINCE.

You are quite mad. I must speak to the King. It concerns the most
important affair of my whole life. [_Starts for the door again._]

EVERSMANN.

Pardon me, Prince, His Majesty sends you this letter.

PRINCE (_takes the letter_).

"To my son, the Crown Prince of Prussia, to be delivered personally in
Rheinsberg within twenty-four hours; kindness of the Prince of
Baireuth." Why this--this is a formal decree of banishment from Berlin!
How could it happen just now?

EVERSMANN.

It's merely a polite hint. Everything is discovered--and not only the
matter of _Rapiniere._ His Majesty knows you now as the emissary of the
Crown Prince, sent to stir up a revolution here in Berlin and in the
palace. The wigmaker confessed it all. I suspected Your Highness from
the first. Wish you a pleasant journey to Rheinsberg.

[_He goes out._]

PRINCE.

Betrayed--forsaken by all--

HOTHAM (_coming hastily from the_ QUEEN'S _room_).

Good news, Prince. The Princess is under arrest again.

PRINCE.

And you call that good news, traitor!

HOTHAM.

There is more, Prince. The traitor is pleased to hear that you also have
fallen under the ban of the royal displeasure.

PRINCE.

You are pleased to hear that?

HOTHAM.

The traitor assures you on his honor that there could be no better means
of fulfilling your heart's desire.

PRINCE.

Would you drive me mad?

HOTHAM.

To throw a preliminary cold shower on your doubt [_looks about
cautiously_] kindly read this portion of a letter I have but just
received.

PRINCE.

A billet-doux from your Prince of Wales?

HOTHAM.

Read it, please.

PRINCE (_reads_).

"London, June the fifth--"

HOTHAM (_indicating a line lower down_).

There--read there.

PRINCE (_reads_