ALEXANDRA—You are a gentleman, and you respect me.
AGI—Your highness....
ALEXANDRA—And I can rely on your discretion.
AGI—Yes.
ALEXANDRA—Absolutely?
AGI—Absolutely.
ALEXANDRA—Yes ... I know you to be a man of honor and a friend of the
family ... and I feel that I shall never have peace of mind again until
I tell you.... My family ... my mother has but one ambition in life,—to
restore our family to its throne. And to that end she wants me to marry
the Crown Prince.... You will understand ... it is not easy for me to
tell you this.... Every word I speak is like blood ... flowing from a
wound. ... Professor ... the Crown Prince showed no interest in me,
and my mother decided ... that if someone else were here ... some man
... to whom I could be attentive ... Albert’s interest in me ... might
be aroused.... I want you to believe, Professor, that I never meant to
hurt you ... and that I am sorry, if I have. Before to-night ... when I
was cold and formal with you ... it was because I knew that you were ...
not at ease ... in my presence. My mother asked me to invite you to the
ball to-night. I have never disobeyed her, but if I had known ... if I
could have foreseen ... that a man’s eyes would light up like that when
his heart was aflame ... that anyone would dare ... to look into my eyes
... as you have looked—— [_She pauses, walks slowly to the table, sits
down._] Now I have told you, Professor. Now you know how you have been
deceived. [_There is a pause._] Have you nothing to say?
AGI—[_His head is bowed._] You only obeyed orders.
ALEXANDRA—I don’t want to seem more blameless than I am. It is hateful
of me to put all the blame on mother. [_After a pause, she continues
earnestly, dreamily, almost sadly._] I want to be a queen. [_Lets her
head sink on her arm. There is a pause._]
AGI—[_Softly._] That means ... I may go now.
ALEXANDRA—Why do you say that?
AGI—I have served my purpose.
ALEXANDRA—[_Rises._] I am afraid I shouldn’t have told you. How strangely
you look at me! [_The music stops._]
AGI—Something is broken in me.... Why did you tell me?
ALEXANDRA—Shouldn’t I have told you?
AGI—Why did you tell me?
ALEXANDRA—Because I respect you. I want to be friends with you.
AGI—Do you? How touching!... Like the good princess in the fairy tale.
But I am not a lad any more ... to believe in fairy tales.
ALEXANDRA—Are you going to ... punish me?
AGI—I adore you ... humbly and hopelessly again. [_Bitterly, earnestly,
mockingly._] You needn’t be afraid of me. I know my place. I am still an
obedient servant to your illustrious family. And what though I may be
wounded a bit and bleeding, I cannot but be honored by the exalted rôle
that has been entrusted to me. It is even beginning to amuse and interest
me.
ALEXANDRA—You sound insincere.
AGI—Perhaps only bitter.
ALEXANDRA—[_Uneasily._] And I thought it was a kindness to tell you the
whole truth.
AGI—You have no further need of me. The bridegroom has caught fire; the
teacher cam be extinguished.
ALEXANDRA—I won’t have you think such things of me, or say such things to
me.
AGI—Have no fear. I am silent and I serve. Don’t look at me so
distrustfully. Let us smile and act as if nothing has happened. [_ALBERT
appears at back._] Can’t you smile? See, I can. We were talking about
the eagle. [_Louder._] And the head of the eagle—— [_ALBERT enters with
BEATRICE and the two ladies._]
ALBERT—Still here?
ALEXANDRA—The professor has been telling me such interesting things.
There is an uncommon astronomical spectacle to-night.
ALBERT—Where?
AGI—[_Uneasily._] In the sky, your highness.
ALBERT—I know that. But which stars?
AGI—It is not really anything uncommon. Only that a few so-called summer
stars may be observed to particularly good advantage to-night. Capella,
Arcturus, Vega and the constellation of the Eagle [_with significance_],
which consists of seven stars, which seven stars form a flying eagle; and
the head of the eagle....
ALBERT—[_Significantly._] I had no idea this was such an interesting
night.