A COMEDY IN ONE ACT

CHARACTERS

The Princess von Geldern.

Baroness von Brook, her maid of honour.

Frau von Halldorf.

Liddy > her daughters Milly / Fritz Strubel, a student.

Frau Lindemann.

Rosa, a waitress.

A Lackey.

The Present Day.

_The scene is laid at an inn situated above a watering-place in central Germany._

THE FAR-AWAY PRINCESS

_The veranda of an inn. The right side of the stage and half of the background represent a framework of gla.s.s enclosing the veranda. The left side and the other half of the background represent the stone walls of the house. To the left, in the foreground, a door; another door in the background, at the left. On the left, back, a buffet and serving-table. Neat little tables and small iron chairs for visitors are placed about the veranda. On the right, in the centre, a large telescope, standing on a tripod, is directed through an open window_.

Rosa, _dressed in the costume of the country, is arranging flowers on the small tables_. Frau Lindemann, _a handsome, stoutish woman in the thirties, hurries in excitedly from the left_.

Frau Lindemann.

There! Now she can come--curtains, bedding--everything fresh and clean as new! No, this honour, this unexpected honour--! Barons and counts have been here often enough. Even the Russian princes sometimes come up from the Springs. I don't bother my head about them--they're just like--that!--But a princess--a real princess!

Rosa.

Perhaps it isn't a real princess after all.

Frau Lindemann (_indignantly_).

What? What do you mean by that!

Rosa.

I was only thinking that a real princess wouldn't be coming to an inn like this. Real princesses won't lie on anything but silks and velvets.

You just wait and see; it's a trick!

Frau Lindemann.

Are you going to pretend that the letter isn't genuine;--that the letter is a forgery?

Rosa.

Maybe one of the regular customers is playing a joke. That student, Herr Strubel, he's always joking. (_Giggles._)

Frau Lindemann.

When Herr Strubel makes a joke, he makes a decent joke, a real, genuine joke. Oh, of course one has to pretend to be angry sometimes--but as for writing a forged letter--My land!--a letter with a gold crown on it--there! (_She takes a letter from her waist, and reads._) "This afternoon, Her Highness, the Princess von Geldern, will stop at the Fairview Inn, to rest an hour or so before making the descent to the Springs. You are requested to have ready a quiet and comfortable room, to guard Her Highness from any annoying advances, and, above all, to maintain the strictest secrecy regarding this event, as otherwise the royal visit will not be repeated. Baroness von Brook, maid of honour to Her Highness." Now, what have you got to say?

Rosa.

Herr Strubel lent me a book once. A maid of honour came into that, too.

I'm sure it's a trick!

Frau Lindemann (_looking out toward the back_).

Dear, dear, isn't that Herr Strubel now, coming up the hill? To-day of all days! What on earth does he always want up here?

Rosa (_pointedly_).

He's in such favour at the Inn.--He won't be leaving here all day.

Frau Lindemann.

That won't do at all. He's got to be sent off. If I only knew how I could--Oh, ho! I'll be disagreeable to him--that's the only way to manage it!

(Strubel _enters. He is a handsome young fellow without much polish, but cheerful, unaffected, entirely at his ease, and invariably good-natured._)

Strubel.

Good day, everybody.

Frau Lindemann (_sarcastically_).

Charming day.

Strubel (_surprised at her coolness_).

I say! What's up? Who's been rubbing you the wrong way? May I have a gla.s.s of beer any way? Gla.s.s of beer, if you please!--Several gla.s.ses of beer, if you please.--(_Sits down._) Pestiferously hot this afternoon.

Frau Lindemann (_after a pause_).

H'm, H'm!

Strubel.