trap door opening downward. At the left a piano with a
violin upon it. There are exposed oak beams; antlers, rifles, snowshoes,
etc., upon the walls. Entrances right and left.]

[At rise: CALKINS, standing by the desk, arranging some papers.]

CALKINS. [As 'phone rings.] Hello! Yes, this is the Isman camp. Prince
Hagen is staying here. This is his secretary speaking. No, Prince
Hagen does not receive telephone calls. No, not under any circumstances
whatever. It doesn't make any difference. If the President of the United
States has anything to say to Prince Hagen, let him communicate with
Mr. Isman at his New York office, and the message will reach him. I am
sorry... those are my instructions. Good-bye. [To HICKS, who enters with
telegram.] Hicks, for the future, Prince Hagen wishes all messages for
him to be taken to my office. That applies to letters, telegrams...
everything.

HICKS. Very good, sir. [Exit.]

CAL. [Opening a telegram.] More appeals for mercy.

HAGEN. [Enters from veranda, wearing white flannels, cool and alert.]
Well, Calkins?

CAL. Nothing important, sir.

HAGEN. The market continues to fall?

CAL. Copper is off five points, sir.

HAGEN. Ah!

CAL. The President of the United States tried to get you on the 'phone
just now.

HAGEN. Humph! Anything else?

CAL. There has been another mob on Fifth Avenue this morning. They seem
to be threatening your palace.

HAGEN. I see. You wrote to the mayor, as I told you?

CAL. Yes, sir.

HAGEN. Well, you'd best put in another hundred guards. And they're to be
instructed to shoot.

CAL. Yes, sir.

HAGEN. Let them be men we can depend on... I don't want any mistake
about it. I don't care about the building, but I mean to make a test of
it.

CAL. I'll see to it, sir.

HAGEN. Anything else?

CAL. A message from a delegation from the National Unemployment
Conference. They are to call tomorrow morning.

HAGEN. Ah, yes. Make a note, please... I sympathize with their purpose,
and contribute half a million. [To GERALD, who enters, left.] Hello,
Gerald... how are you? Make yourself at home. [To CALKINS.] I attribute
the present desperate situation to the anarchical struggles of rival
financial interests. I am assuming control, and straightening out the
tangle as rapidly as I can. The worst of the crisis is over... the
opposition is capitulating, and I expect soon to order a general
resumption of industry. Prepare me an address of five hundred word