THE EMPEROR.

And ladies, coming late, Found this excuse quite natural:--"Oh, Sire, We only stopped to kiss the sentinel!"

THE DUKE.

You loved me then.

THE EMPEROR.

I love you now.

THE DUKE.

Then prove it!

THE EMPEROR.

My Franz! my grandson!

THE DUKE.

Is it true the King Would simply disappear if I appeared?

THE EMPEROR.

Well--

THE DUKE.

Is it true?

THE EMPEROR.

I--

THE DUKE.

Don't tell lies!

THE EMPEROR.

Perhaps!

THE DUKE.

I love you!

THE EMPEROR.

Yes; if you appeared alone, Without a drum, upon the bridge at Stra.s.sburg, The King would vanish.

THE DUKE.

I adore you, Grandad!

THE EMPEROR.

I'm stifled!

THE DUKE.

No.

THE EMPEROR.

I should have held my tongue.

THE DUKE.

Besides, the climate of Vienna's bad: I'm ordered Paris--

THE EMPEROR.

Really?

THE DUKE.

For my cough.

If I'm to spend a season there, of course I can't stop anywhere but at the Louvre.

THE EMPEROR.

Indeed!

THE DUKE.

And if you liked--

THE EMPEROR.

They've often begged us To wink at your escaping--

THE DUKE.

Wink at once!

THE EMPEROR.

Oh, for all me--