_Scene shifted._ _A magnificent apartment with
several doors._ _In the middle of the room an
Oriental divan, which serves_ CALAF _as a bed_.
_Deep night._
BRIGELLA, CALAF.
BRIGELLA.
(_With a candlestick in his hand._) Three hundred
and seventy-seven, three hundred and
seventy-eight, three hundred and seventy-nine.
It's already three o'clock in the morning, your
Royal Highness, and you've walked now exactly
three hundred and eighty times from one corner
of the room to the other. To be quite frank, I'm
done up, and if you _would_ lie down a little,
it would do us both good. You're in safety here.
CALAF.
Yes, you are right. But my excited mind
Gives me no peace. Forgive me! Leave me!
Go!
BRIGELLA.
I should like to give you a piece of advice,
my dearest Royal Highness: if a ghost pays
you a visit, be prudent, be prudent; _try_ to be prudent.
CALAF.
Ghosts, do you say? What ghosts? Is the place haunted?
BRIGELLA.
Well.... H'm.... We have the most
stringent orders to admit nobody, under penalty
of death. H'm.... Poor servants _we_ are, poor
servants! The Emperor is the Emperor, you
understand, but the Princess, she is the Empress,
so to speak. Poor servants... it's hard to have
to pick your way between two puddles. Not
half! If you only knew it, we've always got
our heads between the hammer and the anvil.
We don't want to get into _anybody's_ bad graces.
I'm sure you understand me. And a man wants
to put something aside for his old days. And
so you see we poor devils are in the hell of a
hole. Not half!
CALAF.
What are you driving at? Is my life in danger?
BRIGELLA.
I won't say that; but you are aware of the
blessed interest people about here take in your
name. By way of example it might possibly
happen that a hobgoblin or a fairy steps in
through the keyhole and leads you into temptation.
Keep a tight rein on your five senses, that's
all. You see what I mean, don't you? Poor
servants _we_ people! Poor devils! Not half!
CALAF.
Go. Have no fear. I stand upon my guard.
BRIGELLA.
(_Slapping him on the back._) That's right, your
Highness, that's right. I commend myself to
your most gracious protection. (_Aside._) I _have_
heard that some people can find it in their hearts
to refuse a purse of florins. _I_ have done my
very best, but I can't find it in my heart. So
help me, God! A man can only do what he can
do. I can't do it; no, I can't do it.
(_Exit._)