).

"You ask for news from court. We are very poor in such news just now.
The Prince of Wales is still hunting wild boars in the Welsh mountains."
The Prince is--not in Berlin?

HOTHAM (_still cautious, but smiling_).

Just as little as you are in the Palace of St. James at this moment.

PRINCE.

But what am I to think? What am I to believe?

HOTHAM.

You are to believe that you could well afford to place more confidence
in Hotham's friendship, devotion--and cleverness.

PRINCE.

The Prince of Wales is not in Berlin?

HOTHAM.

H'st! _We_ know he is not here--but he _is_ here for all the others. The
Prince of Wales is here, there, behind the screen, up the chimney, in
the air, under the earth, nowhere where he would be in our way, but
anywhere where we might need him for the merriest comedy in all the
world.

PRINCE.

Hotham! Then I am not deceived in your friendship?

HOTHAM.

Just as little, since our commercial treaty is doomed, as I am mistaken
in your chances, despite arrest and displeasure. But come now, come to
that friendly goblin who will work for us--to the mysterious spirit on
whose account we will keep this corner of the world in anxiety and
terror--your doughty rival but your still doughtier ally.

PRINCE (_in laughing surprise_).

You mean?

HOTHAM.

The Prince of Wales. [_They both go out._]

ACT IV

_Anteroom in the_ KING'S _apartments. The same as in_ SCENE I _of_ ACT
II. _Writing materials on the table._

SCENE I

EVERSMANN _comes from the_ KING'S _room._

SECKENDORF (_puts his head in at another door_).

Pst! Eversmann! Have you seen him yet?

EVERSMANN.

Seen whom, Count?

SECKENDORF. The Prince of Wales. He is indeed in Berlin--he has been
seen everywhere. _Unter den Linden_--by the river--even beyond
Treptow--a frail figure of a man, stooping slightly--his left shoulder
higher than the right. When he speaks you see that one eye-tooth is
missing--

EVERSMANN.

The King will not recognize the presence of the Prince of Wales.

SECKENDORF.

We are being deceived, Eversmann. The King has recognized it. [_Low._]
Or can it be that you have not heard of that most strange--most
remarkable command that has gone out to the Castle Guards--a command
which upsets all our deductions and plans? All sentries have orders to
let a white domino, if such a one should appear at night about the
castle, pass unhindered and even unchallenged. Do you not see the
th