Yes. It was a young officer who went to Africa because of her--and died there.
What don't they know?--But that's a mere detail--it doesn't concern me. Even the fact that in six months she will become the bride of a grand-duke--even that can make no difference to me. For the present she is _my_ princess.--But you're not listening to me!
Do you know what that means--_my_ princess? I'll not give up _my_ princess--not for anything in all the world!
I don't know her? Why, I know her as well as I know myself!
I don't know of any one who has ever met her. And there's not a soul that can tell what she looks like. It is said that there were pictures of her in the shop-windows when she first came, but they were removed immediately. In the morning a great many people are always lurking around the Springs trying to catch a glimpse of her. I myself have gotten up at six o'clock a couple of times--on the same errand--and if you knew me better, you'd realise what that meant. But not a sign of her! Either she has the stuff brought to her house, or she has the power of making herself invisible. (The Princess _turns aside to conceal a smile._) After that, I used to hang around her garden--every day, for hours at a time. Until one day the policeman, whom the managers of the Springs have stationed at the gates, came up to me and asked me what on earth I was doing there. Well, that was the end of those methods of approach! Suddenly, however, a happy thought struck me. Now I can see her, and have her near to me as often as I wish.
Yes, that's just the point. H'm, should I risk it? Should I take you into my confidence?
You promised me some time ago that you would show her to me.
Wait a second. (_Looks through the telescope._) There she is. Please look for yourself.
But I am-- (_She, too, looks through the telescope._) Actually, there is the garden as plain as if one were in it.
And at the corner window on the left--with the embroidery-frame--that's she.
Are you absolutely certain that that is the princess?
Oh, 'round about a princess like that--there are such a lot of people. For instance, there is her waiting-woman, there's the seamstress and her assistants, there's----
But my dear young lady, if you only understood anything about these matters, you would have been certain at the very first glance that it was she--and no one else. Observe the nobility in every motion--the queenly grace with which she bends over the embroidery-frame----