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The parade is over, the suite is entering the castle; I dare not meet the king now in this excited mood. EVERSMANN comes in carrying a large book. He has a pen stuck in behind one ear. Who's this? Can any one have seen me? Why are you looking at me, sirrah? I am the Prince Hereditary of Baireuth. His Majesty is coming in from the parade, but does not grant audiences in this room.
Dreams of our final release of despair of death Or possibly dreams of marriage and the like Have a care, Eversmann! The Crown Prince has won his freedom at last; he is keeping a most exact record of all that happens in Berlin and in the immediate environment of his severe father. It is well known that you influence the King more than do his ministers.
FRAÜLEIN VON SONNSFELD, Lady-in-waiting to the Princess. EVERSMANN, the King's valet. KAMKE, in the Queen's service. ECKHOF, a grenadier. A Lackey in the King's service. Generals, Officers, Court Ladies. Members of the Smoking-Circle. Grenadiers, Lackeys. Scene of action: The Royal Castle of Berlin. First performance, January 1st, 1844, in the Court Theatre in Dresden. A room in the Palace.
It's my turn now. That French windbag who's been hanging about Berlin since yesterday Pleasing description! I'll tell him Your Majesty will not receive him. Rascal! No, Eversmann, tell him I have something very important to say to him something very confidential. Confidential? To me? Concerning an important and pressing matter. Oh, yes, I know. You know, sirrah? What do you know?
Storms and alarms: for there came rumors of quarrels out at Potsdam, quarrels on the old score between the Royal Spouses there; and frightful messages, through one Eversmann, an insolent royal lackey, about wedding Weissenfels, about imprisonment for life and other hard things; through all which Wilhelmina studied to keep her poor head steady, and answer with dignity yet discreetly.
When he speaks you see that one eye-tooth is missing The King will not recognize the presence of the Prince of Wales. We are being deceived, Eversmann. All sentries have orders to let a white domino, if such a one should appear at night about the castle, pass unhindered and even unchallenged. Do you not see the thoughtfulness for the Prince of Wales in that?
In truth I have seen but a very few performances of my play in which Frederick William I. still retained, beneath his attitude of stern father, some share of royal dignity; in which Eversmann, despite his confident impudence, still held his tongue like a trembling lackey; in which the Hereditary Prince, despite his desire to find everything in the Castle ridiculous, still maintained a reserve sufficient to save him from being expelled from Berlin for his impertinent criticisms or where the Princess was still proud and witty beneath her girlish simplicity.
A loud knocking, as with a cane, is heard at the centre door. Come in. Eversmann! Now, what's that? Eversmann! Surely this castle is haunted! Eversmann! Doesn't the fellow hear? Your Majesty? Is that the King? Eversmann, have you forgotten that this is the day for revising the books? No, indeed, Your Majesty. I was occupied in balancing the books of Her Majesty the Queen.
Our Court? A satire on us all on me on Seckendorf, Grumbkow, Eversmann. On me, too? The Crown Prince has underscored most of it, that it may be better understood. Here is a Marshal with the nickname le chicaneur. You know that's meant for you, Grumbkow. Outrageous! The Ambassador, Vicomte de la Rancune, otherwise le petit combinateur. That's you, Seckendorf. It's it's an international insult.
GRUMBKOW and SECKENDORF come in with EVERSMANN. The latter carries a wide orange-colored ribbon with many stars and Orders on it, and a gleaming sword. The KING'S room. A side door on the left; a centre door. A writing table and chairs. It was a dispatch, you say, Eversmann? A dispatch from Hanover. And all this elegance? The ribbon? The sword of state? What does it mean?
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