THE ATTACHe.

The orange-trees?

METTERNICH.

My own idea. They'll bring All they can find. Under each leafy ball Two couples will be seated, starved and laughing.

THE ATTACHe.

Supper in short at separate orange-trees?

Splendid.

METTERNICH.

Why, yes.--And as for grave affairs--

[_To a_ LACKEY.]

Tell them to play no more Slavonic dances--

[_To the_ ATTACHe.]

I do not put them off. Not I. I leave

Ere supper-time to meet the Hospodars-- They are awaiting me--

[_To a_ LACKEY.]

Those wreaths are skimpy.

My hobby's organizing b.a.l.l.s like this; And when the revelry is at its highest Back to the everlasting Eastern Question!

I love to rule a people and a ball: The Arbiter of Europe--

THE ATTACHe.

And its elegance!

GENTZ.

_Arbiter Elegantiarum!_

METTERNICH.

Ah, You're talking Latin; you've been drinking?

GENTZ.

Rum.

METTERNICH.

f.a.n.n.y has kept you very late at table; Oh, this _liaison!_ you're as good as lost.

GENTZ.

What? I and f.a.n.n.y? Off.

METTERNICH.

What?

GENTZ.

Off.

METTERNICH.

[_Seeing the Prefect of Police._]

Sedlinzky.

SEDLINZKY.

One word.

GENTZ.

[_To_ METTERNICH.]

It's off.

[_To a_ DOMINO.]

'Twas wrong to bring you, f.a.n.n.y.

If they discovered you! What an imprudence!

A public dancer!

f.a.n.n.y.

Oh, I'll dance discreetly.

GENTZ.

They'll find you out. For heaven's sake be clumsy.

METTERNICH.

A plot?