AGI—Dr. Waldbrott used to say to me that he would die happy if he could
be sure that I would continue his life’s work. He has entrusted his two
great theories ... to me.
ALBERT—I beg your pardon, but how many great theories had he altogether?
AGI—Two.
ALBERT—And he entrusted them both to you?
AGI—Yes.
ALBERT—Good!
AGI—It is a very important, a very serious trust, your highness.
ALBERT—Certainly, certainly.
AGI—It carries a grave responsibility.... My teacher, my mother and my
sister ... it is only on their account that I prize my insignificant life
... when it ... [_looks at ALEXANDRA_] when it’s in danger. [_Silence.
He raises his glass._] I drink to the welfare of the beautiful young
princess. [_Drains the glass in a single gulp. SYMPHOROSA nudges BEATRICE
repeatedly with her elbow._]
ALBERT—Prosit! That was a mighty draught! [_Smiling, he nudges his
neighbors._]
HYACINTH—That was the draught of a novice. One doesn’t drink heavy wine
like this so quickly.
AGI—I didn’t know, father. I never had the pleasure of drinking it before.
HYACINTH—Then let me introduce you with appropriate ceremony. This is
Tokay, my boy, and of the very oldest.
BEATRICE—And it is drunk with dessert, and not with the soup.
HYACINTH—A two-fold error: you drank too soon and you drank too much.
AGI—I didn’t know, father. I must own it was the first glass of wine I
ever drank in my life.
HYACINTH—Not really?
AGI—Really, father.... There, you see, that, too, had to happen to-night.
[_ALEXANDRA empties her own glass._]
BEATRICE—Alexandra!
HYACINTH—[_Takes ALEXANDRA’S glass._] And I had just finished saying that
one doesn’t drink this wine so fast.
ALBERT—It’s plain to see why Xara did it.
HYACINTH—Why?
ALBERT—To keep the professor in countenance.
BEATRICE—It was quite unnecessary. You never take any wine.
ALEXANDRA—I do to-night, mother. [_To ALBERT._] Albert ... see that this
old professor gets some appointment. Waldbrott—that was his name, wasn’t
it?
HYACINTH—Waldbrott—yes.
ALBERT—If you wish it—I can write to Berlin. Please, Wunderlich, make a
note of it.
WUNDERLICH—[_Writes in his notebook._] I am making a note of it, your
highness.
ALEXANDRA—What sort of appointment can one get for a man like that?
AGI—That’s just it—none at all.
ALBERT—Surely the Emperor can do something for him.
AGI—Hardly, your highness. The man serves a greater lord.
ALBERT—A greater lord than the Emperor?
AGI—One much greater. [_Points upwards._] He is an astronomer.
ALEXANDRA—I should like to meet your sister.
AGI—She is in Dresden, your highness.
ALEXANDRA—Do you love her very much?
AGI—Very much, your highness.
ALEXANDRA—A stupid question to ask, wasn’t it?
BEATRICE—[_Uneasily._] Yes, my child, it was.
AGI—No, your highness, it was a clever question because it is a pleasure
to answer it. I love my sister with all my heart. In my darkest hours I
think of her. For she has the indomitable faith that I cannot be crushed,
that I am a world unto myself.
ALBERT—[_Somewhat ironically._] A whole world?
AGI—Yes, your highness.
ALEXANDRA—How beautiful.
ALBERT—Isn’t that a great deal?
AGI—[_Courageously._] No, your highness. As an astronomer one learns that
the tiniest speck is not to be despised. [_With significance._] Those
little specks in the sky ... every single one ... is a great world.
ALBERT—Every one?
AGI—[_More bravely._] Every one!
ALBERT—[_A bit sharply._] Perhaps they only think so, these little specks.
AGI—[_Still more bravely, though not loudly._] Oh, I know it is difficult
for the great lords to realize. They say: “Ten million inhabitants make
an army of two millions.” ... Yet it is true that, among all these
millions, each individual is a world in himself, a world which may not be
destroyed.
BEATRICE—[_Uneasily._] But, Professor, who is trying to destroy any
worlds?
AGI—Women, for example, do it with a smile. [_To ALEXANDRA._] Your
highness, why do you look at me so fixedly?
ALEXANDRA—I like what you are saying.
AGI—[_To BEATRICE._] And your highness looks at me so uneasily. Perhaps
you don’t like what I’m saying.
BEATRICE—[_Coldly._] That is not the tone in which you are accustomed to
speak to me, Professor.
AGI—[_Bitterly._] I am in very good humor to-night.
BEATRICE—Better than we care for, Professor.
ALEXANDRA—[_Soothingly._] Mother, we are at a ball and are drinking
champagne.... [_Raises her glass._]
BEATRICE—I am astonished, Professor.
SYMPHOROSA—[_In alarm, suddenly._] Albert, I commend the salmon to you.
It is the pride of our chef.
ALBERT—I say, he does put it well. That’s why Xara is so interested.
What’s that about the salmon? [_To SYMPHOROSA._] Did you say something
about the salmon?
SYMPHOROSA—It’s the pride of our chef.
ALBERT—Oh, is it?... But what has that to do with it?
SYMPHOROSA—Nothing. I just mentioned it.
ALBERT—Oh! Yes! Well! Little specks in the sky. Astronomy. Romance. Empty
phrases.
AGI—[_Heatedly._] No, not empty phrases, your highness.
ALBERT—Oh, yes, they are. Phrases for women. To impress them. Every star
a world in itself!
AGI—[_Belligerently._] Not every star, your highness.
ALBERT—No?
AGI—No. The big white moon, for example, ... it makes a huge,
pretentious, glittering show, yet it has no light of its own. It only
reflects the light of the sun. On the other hand, there is the modest
little star called Vega, which you seem to hold in such contempt ...
its light is a thousand times stronger than the light of the sun.
[_SYMPHOROSA nudges BEATRICE._]
ALBERT—Its modesty is charming, under the circumstances.
AGI—[_Sharply._] It isn’t modesty, your highness. It is only remoteness.
ALBERT—It is fitting for remote things to glimmer modestly.
AGI—[_Openly truculent._] It only seems so to your highness. To me,
because I know what it is, it shines in its true value; and so I proudly
proclaim that it is more brilliant than the sun, and that its brilliance
is its own.... [_Puts his hand on his chest._] Its own!
ALBERT—[_Smiling._] Possibly, Professor. It seems I do not understand
these things.
AGI—[_Decidedly._] No, your highness.
BEATRICE—[_To SYMPHOROSA in a harrowed whisper._] I can’t bear it any
longer.
ALBERT—Charming! Charming! At last a man who tells me to my face that
there is something I do not understand.
AGI—[_Stubbornly._] No, your highness doesn’t know anything about it.
ALBERT—[_Forcing himself to seem pleased._] In twenty years I haven’t
heard anyone so outspoken. Professor, I admire you not only as an
astronomer, but as a man. I am charmed with your candor.
AGI—[_As if offended._] It makes no difference to me whether you like it
or not.
ALBERT—[_Jovially._] There’s candor for you! Charming! I’m really
enjoying myself here.
BEATRICE—[_Weakly._] Oh! [_She rises suddenly, sways. General
consternation._]
ALBERT—[_Puts down his glass._] What’s the matter, Aunt Beatrice? [_He
rises._] Aunt Beatrice! Tu te trouves mal?
BEATRICE—[_Weakly._] My head ... all of a sudden.... Laisse moi ... je
vous en prie—forgive me.... [_WUNDERLICH has gone to her assistance and
is supporting her._] Merci, mon colonel.... Never mind.... [_The HUSSARS
swiftly draw the portières across both big arches. WUNDERLICH leaves
BEATRICE and crosses to left._]
ALBERT—Tu te trouves mal, Tante Béatrice?
BEATRICE—I am sorry ... a little weakness ... please don’t bother ...
I’ll retire.
WUNDERLICH—[_To CÆSAR._] Have that music stopped. [_CÆSAR whispers to
ALFRED, who hurries off. The music stops._]
ALBERT—[_Takes BEATRICE’S arm._] I don’t doubt that you exerted yourself
too much to-day. Let me see you to your room.
HYACINTH—Don’t bother, Albert. I’ll take her up.
ALBERT—No, no. Stay here ... everybody. [_To SYMPHOROSA, who is about to
accompany them._] Symphorosa, you stay here with the salmon. Please sit
down, Xara. No excitement. I’ll look after her.
BEATRICE—[_In a faint voice._] No excitement ... with a houseful of
strangers ... oh ... oh!
ALBERT—All right, my dear ... everything will be all right. [_To the
others._] I wish you all to remain here, please. [_Goes toward left,
supporting BEATRICE._] As if nothing had happened. [_As he passes
CÆSAR._] Why has the music stopped?
WUNDERLICH—[_Answers for CÆSAR._] I thought your highness would prefer no
music during this unfortunate——
ALBERT—[_Leading BEATRICE slowly off._] Let the music continue. The more
the better! [_CÆSAR makes a sign to ALFRED, who exits._]
BEATRICE—Pardonnez moi ... merci, mon cher. ... [_ALBERT and BEATRICE
exit._]
WUNDERLICH—[_As he follows them._] Music. [_He looks at CÆSAR. There is
a brief pause, and the music begins again. Beaming with satisfaction,
WUNDERLICH exits. All except SYMPHOROSA resume their seats._]
AGI—Is your highness ill, too?
SYMPHOROSA—No.