But, Vilhelm, listen to me! (Takes him by the arm. Meantime
a STRANGER has taken KOLL and GRAN by the arm, to their manifest
surprise, and brought the forward away from the crowd. He stands
for a moment, looking them in the face, till suddenly KOLL gives a
start and cries out: "The King!")
The King. Hush!
Gran. It really is--!
The King (to GRAN). You are at home here; take up into a room--and
give us some champagne. My throat is as dry as a lime-kiln!
Curtain
SCENE II
(SCENE.--A room built in Gothic style, comfortably furnished and
decorated with trophies of the chase. GRAN ushers in the KING and
KOLL.)
Gran. We can be quite alone here. (ANNA, a deaf and dumb girl of
about fifteen, brings in some bottles of champagne, and, during
the following dialogue, sets out glasses, refreshments, cigars, and
pipes. She is quick and attentive to render the slightest service
required of her; when not employed, she sits on a stool in the
background. She talks to GRAN on her fingers, and receives orders
from him in the same manner.)
The King. Ah, this is like old times! I know the setting: "Gothic
room in mediaeval style, decorated with trophies of the chase.
Furnished with an eye to bachelor comfort!" You always had bachelor
habits, you know, even when you were quite a boy.
Pages:
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273