Second Old Gentleman. I don"t know. I have only just come.
A Workman. Why, the King is coming past here with her!
First Old Gentleman. Coming past here with her? To hold a court at the palace?
The Workman. Yes.
Second Old Gentleman (taking a pinch of snuff). And I suppose those fellows in the club mean to make a demonstration?--hiss them, or something of that sort?
The Workman. So they say.
First Old Gentleman. Have they decided not to attend the court then?
A Dandy. Unanimously decided.
A Woman. It"s filthy!
The Dandy. I beg your pardon?
The Woman. I say that those fellows in there will condescend to seduce our daughters, right enough; but they won"t condescend to marry them.
But, you see, the King does.
The Workman. I am not sure it wouldn"t be better if he didn"t.
The Woman. Well, I know people who say that she is quite a respectable person.
The Dandy. I imagine that you have not read the newspapers?
First Old Gentleman. Hm!--one has to be a little careful as to how far one believes the newspapers.
Second Old Gentleman (offering him his snuff-box). I am delighted to hear you say that! There is such a lot of slander flying about. That bawdy ballad just now; for instance.
The Woman. Yes, that"s poking fun at _him_--I know that.
The Dandy. You had better take care what you are saying, my good woman!
The Woman. Ah, I only say what I know.
(FLINK appears on the steps of the statue beside the BALLAD SINGER.)
Flink. Stop your stupid songs! I want to speak!
Voice in the Crowd. Who is that?
Flink. You don"t know me. I have never made public speeches--and least of all to street mobs.
Voice in the Crowd. Why are you doing it now, then?
Flink. Because I have been charged with a message to you! (The members of the club rush to the windows and on to the balcony and steps.
Uproar.)
Voice in the Crowd. Be quiet! Let us hear him!
Flink. Listen to me, good people! You don"t know me. But you used to know a tall chap, with long white hair and a big hat, who often made speeches to you. I mean Professor Ernst.
Voice in the Crowd. Three cheers for Professor Ernst. (Cheers.)
Flink. He was sent to prison, as you know, for high treason; escaped from prison, but broke his legs. Now he is living in exile, hopelessly crippled.
Voice in the Crowd. He got a pardon.
Another. No one knows where he is.
Flink. I know where he is. He has charged me to deliver a message to you to-day.
Voices from the Club. Bravo!
Voices from the Crowd. Has he! Bravo, Ernst!
Voices from the Club. Be quiet, down there!
Flink. He made me promise that, on the day on which his daughter was to be presented at the palace as the King"s betrothed, I would stand up in some public place where she would pa.s.s by, and say that it was being done against her father"s will and in spite of his urgent entreaties and commands. (Loud cries of "Bravo!" from the club. A voice in the crowd: "That is just what we thought!") I am charged to announce publicly that he despises her for it and sends her his curse! (Fresh cries of "Bravo!"
from the club. Voices in the crowd: "That"s shocking!"--"No, he was quite right;" etc., etc. Uproar.) Quiet, good people!
A Young Man in the Crowd. May I be allowed to ask a question? (Shouts of "Yes!" and "No!" and laughter are heard.)
Flink. By all means.
The Young Man. Did not Professor Ernst himself advocate a king"s doing just what our King has done?
Voices in the Crowd. Hear, hear!
Flink. Yes, and in return was thrown into prison and is now an incurable cripple. No one has been more cruelly treated by the King"s hirelings.
And now here is his daughter willing to become Queen!
Count Platen (from the club balcony). I don"t see why you want to blame her! No; what I say is, that it is our dissolute King"s fault altogether! (Renewed uproar. Cries of: "Turn him out!" from the club.)
Flink. I had something more to say about those who--. But make those fellows at the club be quiet first.
A Voice. They are fighting over there! (Laughter. Wild uproar is heard from the club, amidst which COUNT PLATEN"S voice is heard shouting: "Let me be! Let me alone!"--and other voices: "Don"t let him go out!"--"He is drunk!" Eventually COUNT PLATEN comes out on to the steps, hatless and dishevelled.)
Count Platen. I"m going to make a speech to you! I am better than that crew in there! (Cries of "Bravo!") What I say is, that the King is coming past here directly with a woman. (Applause, and laughter. Every one crowds towards him. The police try to pull him down. A free fight ensues.) Hiss them when they come! (Cries of "Throw him down!"--"Bravo!"--"Hurrah!") I, Count Platen, tell you to do so! Hiss him, howl at him, make a regular hullabaloo when he comes! I, Count Platen, tell you to! (Cries of "Three cheers for Count Platen!" are mingled with cries of "Three cheers for the King!" There is a general tumult. COUNT PLATEN is hustled up and down the steps, and tries to go on making his speech every time he comes up.) He is defiling the throne!--He wants to marry a traitor"s daughter! Shame! I, Count Platen, say so! Here I stand--! (A trumpet-call is heard; then cries of "Here is the King!"--"No, it"s the cavalry!"--"The cavalry are coming!"--"Clear the square!" A shot is heard, followed by a scream; the people take to their heels as another trumpet-call is heard. Curtain.)
SCENE II
(SCENE.--A room in the BARONESS" house. The BARONESS is sitting reading.
A MAID enters and brings her a card.)