The Princess Elopes

THE GRAND DUKE--In two months' time you shall wed the Prince of Doppelkinn.

THE PRINCESS--What! that old red-nose? Never! I shall marry only where I love.

THE GRAND DUKE--Only where you love! (Sneers.) One would think, to hear you talk, that you were capable of loving something.

THE PRINCESS--You have yet to learn. I warn you not to force me. I promise to do something scandalous. I will marry one of the people--a man.

THE GRAND DUKE--Bah! (Swears softly on his way down to the stables.)

But the princess had in her mind a plan which, had it gone through safely, would have added many grey hairs to the duke's scanty collection. It was a mighty ingenious plan, too, for a woman to figure out.

In his attitude toward the girl the duke stood alone. Behind his back his ministers wore out their shoes in waiting on the caprices of the girl, while the grand duchess, half-blind and