ered.
But honor never will accept a rag
Which bears the Bonapartist weed and hornet,
Woe to the Ogre's brat--!

THERESA.

What!

TIBURTIUS.

If he touched you!

THERESA.

You use expressions, brother--

TIBURTIUS.

They are warnings.

A BEAR.

[_Passing with a Chinese woman._]

How do you know I am a diplomat?

THE CHINESE WOMAN.

Why, by the skilful way you hide your claws.

THE ATTACHE.

[_Pursuing_ FANNY.]

Is there no way of knowing who you are?
Now, are you English?

FANNY.

_Ja._

THE ATTACHE.

Or German?

FANNY.

_Oui._

PROKESCH.

[_Entering with the_ DUKE.]

My Lord, is not the ball beyond compare?

THE PUNCHINELLO.

[_To a_ DOMINO.]

Your ear--!

THE DOMINO.

What for?

THE PUNCHINELLO.

My secret! Hush!

[_To another_ DOMINO.]

Your ear!

PROKESCH.

This corner's charming, given up to shadows--

THE CHINESE WOMAN.

[_To the_ BEAR.]

What are you carrying on your arm?

THE BEAR.

My nose-ring.

PROKESCH.

Charming, those scattered blocks, the broken god,
The ivied urn, and, in its frame of stone,
Yonder the water. It is like--

THE DUKE.

A mirror!

PROKESCH.

What had Prince Metternich to say last night?

[_Seeing the_ DUKE _unmask._]

You take your mask off?

THE DUKE.

And, alas, that's all
A stone.

PROKESCH.

What for?

THE DUKE.

To cast into the pond--
All's vanished. Only circles on the water.

PROKESCH.

You are depressed, and yet to-night the plot
Must come to a head if I may trust the symptoms.
These lines were slipped into my hand this morning:

[_He takes a note out of his pocket._]

"Ask him to be there early, and to wear
His uniform beneath a violet cloak."

THE DUKE.

Oh, 'twere too criminal--

PROKESCH.

The note--

THE DUKE.

The note
Is from a woman anxious not to miss me.
I've taken her advice, for I am here
Only for love's adventure.

PROKESCH.

No!

THE DUKE.