The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Vii Part 22

Is there--is there anything new in the air, Your Majesty?

QUEEN.

I shall need to display all my strength, all my will-power. I shall have need of it to uphold the dignity of a monarchy whose natural head appears to forget more and more that Prussia has recently joined the ranks of the Great Powers of Europe.

SONNSFELD.

Your Majesty--is laying plots?

QUEEN.

I am consumed with curiosity to make the acquaintance of this Prince whom my son considers worthy of his friendship. [SONNSFELD _motions to the Prince_.] As soon as he arrives, dear Sonnsfeld--

SONNSFELD (_pointing to the PRINCE, who comes in_).

Kamke has just shown him in. Here he is, Your Majesty.

QUEEN (_rising_).

This is a surprise, Prince. I did not hear you enter.

PRINCE.

Your Majesty was so deeply absorbed in thought--

QUEEN (_aside_).

He has a pleasing exterior and intelligent eyes. [_Aloud_.] Did my messenger--

PRINCE.

The good fellow met me just as I was about to leave my hotel. He gave me Your Majesty's gracious command.

QUEEN. Prince--[_She sits down, motioning him to do the same_.]

My heartiest thanks for the letters from my worthy son. One sentence, which I reread many times, permits me to a.s.sume that he has informed you of a certain matter, a certain plan of mine--

PRINCE.

Certainly, Your Majesty. [_Aside_.] I haven't heard a word about it.

QUEEN.

It makes me very happy to know that in this matter, as indeed in most things, my son and I are so completely in accord. Then you, also, think as we do on this subject?

PRINCE.

Undoubtedly--undoubtedly, Your Majesty. [_Aside_.] If I only knew _what_ subject!

QUEEN.

My son writes me that I may rely entirely on your sympathy in this affair.

PRINCE.

He did not exaggerate, Your Majesty. When I parted from him, his last words, called after my moving carriage, were these: "Dear friend, my gracious mother, the Queen, will inform you as to all further details concerning the affair in question."

QUEEN.

That sounds very like him. I am quite ready to do as he says.

PRINCE (_aside_).

The plot thickens.

QUEEN.

You know that the Electors of Brandenburg have but recently become Kings of Prussia. Although a Hanoverian Princess myself, I find my happiness in Prussia's greatness, my pride in Prussia's fame. No state has such need to be careful in the choice of its alliances, political or matrimonial, as our own. And hence there is no subject so interesting and so important to our country at the moment as a certain question which is already exciting the Cabinets of Europe, a question--the answer to which you have doubtless already guessed.

PRINCE.

I think--I may say--that I understand Your Majesty entirely. [_Aside_.]

What can she mean?

QUEEN.

No one can call me unduly proud. But if one belongs to a family which has recently had the honor of being chosen to fill the throne of England--if one is the daughter of a King, the wife of a King, the mother of a future King--you will understand that in this matter of my daughter's future--there are weighty considerations which force me to avoid any possible political mesalliance.

PRINCE.

Mesalliance? The Princess? Your daughter [_Bewildered_.] I must confess--I was but superficially informed of all these matters.

QUEEN.

What I am about to tell you, Prince, under the seal of your utmost discretion, is a secret and the result of the gravest negotiations and plans. You know what kind of a Court this is at which I live. I am denied the influence which should be my right as mother of my country.

The King has surrounded himself with persons who have separated him from me. I dare not think how this company of corporals and sergeants will receive my deeply thought-out plans. How will the King be inclined in regard to a matter that is of such decisive importance for the happiness of his children and the fair fame of his house? In this, Prince, you see my need of a man of your intelligence, your insight, that I may know what to hope--or [_firmly_] if need be--what to dare!

PRINCE.

I shall be most eagerly anxious to justify Your Majesty's confidence.

[_Aside_.] Good Heavens!

QUEEN.

Let me then inform you of a secret but completed negotiation in which all the nearest relatives of our house have already taken part, and into the nature of which I now initiate you, too, as my son's friend. My daughter is to become the wife of my nephew, the Prince of Wales; she will therefore be the future Queen of England.

PRINCE (_aside_).

Zounds! A nice rival this!