[_He starts on seeing_ FLAMBEAU _standing rigid before the_ DUKE'S _door; he rubs his eyes._]
Ha! No! no! I'm feverish; my _tête-à-tête_ With the old hat plays havoc with my nerves!
[_He looks and draws near._ FLAMBEAU _does not move._]
Or have the moonbeams conjured up a spectre? What is it, then? Let's see--let's see--let's see!
[_He strides furiously toward_ FLAMBEAU.]
[_With a forced laugh, coming toward him again._]
I'm the Austrian Chancellor! I am all-powerful! I'm--
What's Reichstadt? Never heard of Reichstadt! Auerstadt, Elchingen, they're dukes I know. Reichstadt's no duke. There's been no victory there.
I should rather think so! Thanks to our new success we're quartered here; And here we're getting ready at our leisure To give the world another drubbing! See?
Who are you? Where d'you spring from? Why aren't you snug in bed? It's very fishy--
Who let this braggart pass? The Mameluke?
You calmly cross the Rosa chamber Unchallenged by the sentinel on guard!
When you ventured through the small rotunda, Was there no yatagan to shave your cheek? Were there no sergeants in the white saloon Brewing their punch upon the golden stove? No bristling veterans in the china-room? And in the galleries? The Grenadiers Saw you come strolling as a matter-of-course? A man may cross the oval cabinet And not be turned to mince-meat by Duroc?
So the palace is an inn? And when you'd managed all the sentinels, Where were the rest? The porter? Gone to bed? The valet? Absent? And the secretary? Where was he hidden? In his own portfolio?
Instead of being after you, No doubt the Aide-de-Camp was after women!
And the Moor was saying prayers to Allah? At any rate it's lucky I was here. What discipline! If he looks into this I'll bet my head he'll let the beggars know!
Ah! don't stir! You'll wake him! He's sleeping on his little bed of laurels.
Was never such a dream! 'Twill make an epic!
[_His hand touches the flame of one of the candles._]
[_Feeling the point of_ FLAMBEAU'S _bayonet._]
Oh, my stars! Now you turn whiter than a bugler's horse!
It is the Duke of Reichstadt! I'm not scared! It is the Duke! I'm sure of it!
[_The_ DUKE _enters, with the reading lamp in his hand_.]
Aha! Tis you! 'Tis you! It is your Highness! Ah, but how glad I am!