ecoming sentimental and I
hate sentimentality. It reminds me of people with colds in their heads
who have lost their pocket handkerchiefs.

PRINCE [_in evident uneasiness_]

Madame, your eloquence is remarkable, but to say that you are
mysterious is all that I dare to say.

QUEEN

You dare to say what you want to say [_bitterly_]. You have courage
enough to satisfy your curiosities like everybody else, but I have
always noticed that when people are not curious their manners become
extraordinary. However, we are forgetting about the fete. Let us call
Phedro.

PRINCE [_bowing_]

With pleasure.

[_He calls. PHEDRO emerges after a few seconds at an entirely
different angle from the place where he was concealed._]

PHEDRO

Majesty.

QUEEN

[_Addressing him in a peremptory voice._]

It is my wish that you should think of something bizarre to be
included in the festivities of tonight. The Prince and myself do not
seem able to put our minds on it.

PHEDRO

I think most certainly, Majesty, there should be something bizarre
about these festivities, but Majesty----

[_He makes her a low bow._]

QUEEN [_interrogatively_]

Yes?

PHEDRO [_sliding up to her_]

Could I beg a moment alone with your Majesty? For it would be my
humble view that both _fiances_ share the surprise.

QUEEN

[_Turning to the PRINCE with a gesture of dismissal._]

Go along, Charles. At any rate you have a sort of sleight-of-hand
manner of looking at your watch that makes me rather nervous.

PRINCE

[_Taking her hand, and becoming mischievously eloquent with
relief._]

Then, _au revoir_, my Cousin. When this garish day is drowned in the
sapphire pool of night, and we are all like pallid flowers tossed
upon moody currents of mysterious desire, perhaps--who knows? our
petals may touch in that tender gloom of night and music.

[_Bends tenderly, whimsically over her hand._]

QUEEN

[_Gazing after his exit enraptured, once more hopeful, then
turning to PHEDRO._]

Ah, Phedro, what joy there is in being foolish!

PHEDRO

Pleasure has two extremes, Madame. One is to have your lover in your
arms, the other is to have him in your power.

QUEEN [_pacing up and down_]

I must have one or the other. What can be done. Think for me, advise
me. I am too unstrung to think for myself. When one wants a thing very
much, everything blurs.

PHEDRO

There are many voices whispering