_The same_ FAITHFUL PRINCE, MINISTER _and_ COMMANDER IN
CHIEF. WINGED PRINCE, GENERAL _and_ GRAND SECRETARY;
POPLAR, _a minister_; VEILED-LIGHT, COUNCILLOR;
CHAMBERLAINS, COUNCILLORS, MANDARINS, _etc. They enter in
turn. Lastly the_ TARTAR EMPEROR _and_ FOUNT-IN-THE-FOREST.
POPLAR [_To_ FAITHFUL PRINCE]
If your Excellency would say a word for me to the Empress,
my desires would be fulfilled and I should obtain the red
button, which I have earned by my services.
FAITHFUL
I know your merits and I realise what you deserve. But
believe me, true greatness is above titles. We are
devoting our lives to a noble cause, for the joy of seeing
it triumph, and not in the hope of a reward. If we die in
the service, our name will shine with a brightness, more
enduring I assure you, than that of a ruby in the crown of
your hat----However, rest assured I shall do my utmost to
obtain it for you, since you aspire to it.
POPLAR
I shall be grateful to you to my dying day.
[_He bows and goes out._]
WINGED PRINCE [_To_ FAITHFUL PRINCE]
May I enquire after your precious health?
FAITHFUL PRINCE [_Bowing_]
How kind of you to trouble about so trifling a matter!
My health is good, thank you. I dare to hope that yours,
infinitely more precious, is also excellent to the joy of
us all.
WINGED PRINCE [_Bowing again_]
You see me overwhelmed by a solicitude of which I am
unworthy. Thank you, I am very well. Without excessive
pain I am reaching the allotted span--a poor thing, it is
true--of my days.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
Did you succeed in seeing the representative of our
enemies, the Viceroy of Nanking?
WINGED PRINCE
I saw him and I dictated a report, which he agreed to send
to Peking, but I have had to pay dearly for his discretion.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
If only we gain thereby a few days' respite, we shall not
need to regret the bait thrown into the mouth of the Tiger.
The treasures of the Mings, happily, are far from exhausted
and the secret vaults, all unknown to the Tartars, still
contain more than is necessary to defray the expenses of
war.
[_They go out in conversation_]
VEILED-LIGHT [_Talking with a_ COUNCILLOR]
There is a method of obtaining calabashes of a magnificent
red. You graft the young plant with cockscombs----
COUNCILLOR
With cockscombs?----Can it be done?
VEILED-LIGHT
Yes, you bury them alongside the roots and pass the stems
through the flesh.
A SECRETARY
I know another process for obtaining gourds of celestial
blue.
COUNCILLOR [_To_ Veiled Light]
Where did you get your information?
VEILED LIGHT
I read it in the Tu Tien Shan, a work in 20 volumes,
containing the most curious secrets of horticulture.
[_They pass on._]
AN OFFICER
How kind of our Empress to give us audience in the open
air, among the flowers!
A STOUT MANDARIN
And to dispense with prostration. At my age and with my
figure, the performance is very difficult, and, as you
know, one is so easily made to appear ridiculous!
WINGED PRINCE [_To_ FAITHFUL PRINCE, _watching the approach
of the_ TARTAR EMPEROR _and_ FOUNT-IN-THE-FOREST]
I once met the Governor of the South, but I must be
confusing him with someone else, for I recollect a person
very different from this one. Yet, if I had ever seen those
eyes, it seems to me that their expression would have
remained in my memory.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
Indeed he has most uncommon expression and an extraordinary
dignity.
EMPEROR [To FOUNT]
What makes you so uneasy?
FOUNT [_In a whisper_]
I am certain that I recognised here in the palace two
officers from Peking, disguised, like ourselves.
EMPEROR
Yes? No doubt they were spies sent out in pursuit of me.
FOUNT
I do not think so. More likely the leaders of a conspiracy,
against Nanking, perhaps to take it by surprise. We must
leave here as soon as possible. All is in readiness, the
horses are saddled, the vessel under steam----You wished to
see this palace with your own eyes. You have succeeded, now
let us depart.
EMPEROR
Depart before having seen her for a last time? Oh, no.
Nothing could make me give up that happiness, which has
come to be for me the most desirable thing in the world.
FOUNT
Every minute here we are risking our heads----At least as
soon as you have had your audience, I beg you not to delay
another instant.
EMPEROR
You have my promise.
FOUNT
The Faithful Prince has looked toward you several times and
you cannot do otherwise now than greet him. He is Prime
Minister and Commander-in-Chief, the most important person
here; a great heart and a fine character. His rank places
him above a viceroy.
EMPEROR
What shall I say to him?
FOUNT
A few polite commonplaces.
EMPEROR
Can I do so? [_He approaches the_ FAITHFUL PRINCE _and
salutes him._] Illustrious Prince, may a long and happy
life be yours! It is a blessing of Heaven to be permitted
to gaze upon your noble countenance and to meet the light
of your eyes.
FAITHFUL PRINCE [_Returning the bow_]
In truth I might say the same to you----But I beg of you
let us dispense with compliments. Are you satisfied with
your government of the South?
EMPEROR
That region is the most faithfully rebellious of the
whole Empire, and is so far away that the orders for its
repression are lost before they reach it. The inhabitants
refuse to pay the tax levied by the Tartars and of their
own accord deposit the money in our coffers.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
You do not fail to accept only half of it, and to refuse it
altogether during bad years?----
EMPEROR
I have done so, which accounts for our popularity.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
Perhaps you would like to be near the throne, in order to
obtain a higher rank, more in accordance with your merits.
Make use of my influence to support your request----
EMPEROR
I am the slave of her Majesty, ready to serve her in any
position in which she may wish to employ me, but I ask for
nothing, and the good opinion which Your Excellence has of
my merits is to me the most acceptable recompense.
FAITHFUL PRINCE
I congratulate you on being without ambition and not fixing
a prize on your devotion----Our Sovereign will appear soon.
EMPEROR [_To_ FOUNT]
Did I acquit myself creditably?
FOUNT
In very dangerous words. Ah, how I wish I saw you safely
away from here!
EMPEROR
Oh, that I might remain always!----She is coming!