It is worth over four hundred
thousand dollars. It is the work of the elder Mimi, a most wonderful
smith.

GER. [Advancing.] May I look at it?

ALB. You will observe the design of the Rhine maidens.

GER. I can't see it here. It's too dark. Let me have a candle.

MIMI. A candle?

ALL. A candle!

ALB. My dear sir! Candles are so expensive! And why do you want to see
it? We never look at our art treasures.

GER. Never look at them!

ALB. No. We know what they are worth, and everyone else knows; and what
difference does it make how they look?

GER. Oh, I see!

ALB. Perhaps you would like to see our vaults of gold? [Great excitement
among the Nibelungs. The music makes a furious uproar. ALBERICH gives a
great key to MIMI, who opens the iron doors.] Approach, sir.

MIMI. Hear the echoes. [Shouts.]

GER. It must be a vast place!

ALB. This particular cavern runs for seventeen miles under the earth.

GER. What! And you mean it is all full of gold?

ALB. From floor to roof with solid masses of it.

GER. Incredible! Is it all of the Nibelung treasure?

ALB. All? Mercy, no! This is simply my own, and I am by no means a rich
man. The extent of some of our modern fortunes would simply exceed your
belief. We live in an age of enormous productivity. [After a pause.]
Will you see more of the vault?

GER. No, I thank you. [They close it.] It must be getting late; and, by
the way, your majesty, you know that no one has told me yet why you had
me brought here.

ALB. Ah, yes, sure enough. We have business to talk about. Let us get to
it! [To MIMI.] Let the hall be cleared. [MIMI drives out the Nibelungs
and retires.] Sit on this rock here beside me. [Confidentially.] Now we
can talk things over. I trust you are willing to listen to me.

GER. Most certainly. I am very much interested.

ALB. Thank you. You know, my dear sir, that I had a son, Hagen, who was
the slayer of the great hero, Siegfried?

GER. Yes, your majesty.

ALB. A most lamentable affair. You did not know, I presume, that Hagen,
too, had a son, by one of the daughters of earth?

GER. No. He is not mentioned in history.

ALB. That son, Prince Hagen, is now living; and, in the course of
events, he will fall heir to the throne I occupy.

GER. I see.

ALB. The boy is seven or eight hundred years old, which, in your
measure, would make him about eighteen. Now, I speak frankly. The boy is
wild and unruly. He needs guidance and occupation. And I h