What moment?
MIZZIE
Have you forgotten already? As soon as he had pa.s.sed his examinations, you meant to reveal yourself as his father.
PRINCE
So I have done already.
MIZZIE
You--have told him already?
PRINCE
I have.
MIZZIE (_after a pause, without looking at him_)
And his mother--is dead...?
PRINCE
She is--so far.
MIZZIE
And forever. (_Rising_)
PRINCE
As you please.
[_The Count enters, followed by the valet._
VALET
But it was Your Grace who said that Joseph could be free.
COUNT
Yes, yes, it"s all right.
VALET (_goes out_)
MIZZIE
What"s the matter, papa?
COUNT
Nothing, my girl, nothing. I wanted to get somewhere quick--and that infernal Joseph.... If you don"t mind, Mizzie, I want to have a few words with Egon.... (_To the Prince_) Do you know, she has been trying to get me before. I mean Lolo. But she couldn"t get the number. And now Laura telephones--oh, well, that"s her maid, you know--that she has just started on her way here.
PRINCE
Here? To see you?
COUNT
Yes.
PRINCE
But why?
COUNT
Oh, I think I can guess. You see, she has never put her foot in this place, of course, and I have been promising her all the time that she could come here once to have a look at the house and the park before she married. Her standing grievance has always been that I couldn"t receive her here. On account of Mizzie, you know. Which she has understood perfectly well. And to sneak her in here some time when Mizzie was not at home--well, for that kind of thing I have never had any taste. And so she sends me a telephone message, that the marriage is set for the day after to-morrow, and that she is on her way here now.
PRINCE
Well, what of it? She is not coming here as your mistress, and so I can"t see that you have any reason for embarra.s.sment.
COUNT
But to-day of all days--and with your son due at any moment.
PRINCE
You can leave him to me.
COUNT
But I don"t want it. I"m going to meet the carriage and see if I can stop her. It makes me nervous. You"ll have to ask your son to excuse me for a little while. Good-by, Mizzie. I"ll be back right away. (_He goes out_)
PRINCE
Miss Lolo has sent word that she"s coming to call, and your papa doesn"t like it.
MIZZIE
What"s that? Has Lolo sent word? Is she coming here?
PRINCE
Your father has been promising her a chance to look over the place before she was married. And now he has gone to meet the carriage in order to steer her off.
MIZZIE