t me to introduce my
son? This is Countess Mizzie, daughter of the old friend of mine in
whose house you are now.

PHILIP (_kisses the hand offered him by Mizzie; brief pause_)

MIZZIE

Won't you be seated, please?

PHILIP

Thank you. Countess. (_All remain standing_)

PRINCE

You came in the carriage? Might just as well send it back, as mine is
here already.

PHILIP

Won't you come back with me instead, papa? You see, I think Wasner does
a great deal better than your Franz with his team of ancients.

MIZZIE

So Wasner has been driving you?

PHILIP

Yes.

MIZZIE

The old man himself? Do you know that's a great honor? Wasner won't
take the box for everybody. Up to about two years ago he used to drive
my father.

PHILIP

Oh....

PRINCE

You're a little late, by the way, Philip.

PHILIP

Yes, I have to beg your pardon. Overslept, you know. (_To Mizzie_) I
was out with some of my colleagues last night. You may have heard that
I passed my examinations a couple of weeks ago, Countess. That's why we
rather made a night of it.[6]

[6] "... Ein bissel gedraht." The term is specifically
Viennese and implies not only "making a night of it," but also
making the contents of that night as varied as the resources
of the locality will permit.

MIZZIE

You seem to have caught on to our Viennese ways pretty quickly,
Mister....

PRINCE

Oh, dear Mizzie, call him Philip, please.

MIZZIE

But I think we must sit down first of all, Philip. (_With a glance at
the Prince_) Papa should be here any moment now. (_She and the Prince
sit down_)

PHILIP (_still standing_)

If you permit me to say so--I think the park is magnificent. It is much
finer than ours.

MIZZIE

You are familiar with the Ravenstein park?

PHILIP

Certainly, Countess. I have been living at Ravenstein House three days
already.

MIZZIE

Is that so?

PRINCE

Of course, gardens cannot do as well in the city as out here. Ours was
probably a great deal more beautiful a hundred years ago. But then our
place was still practically outside the city.

PHILIP

It's a pity that all sorts of people have been allowed to run up houses
around our place like that.

MIZZIE

We are better off in that respect. And we shall hardly live to see the
town overtake us.

PHILIP (_affably_)

But why not, Countess?

MIZZIE

A hundred years ago these grounds were still used for hunting. The
place adjoins the