L'Aiglon.

by Edmond Rostand.

THE FIRST ACT

_At Baden, near Vienna, in 1830._

_The drawing-room of the villa occupied by_ MARIA LOUISA. _The walls are painted al fresco in bright colors. The frieze is decorated with a design of sphinxes._

_At the back, between two other windows, a window reaching to the ground and forming the entrance from the garden. Beyond, the bal.u.s.trade of the terrace leading into the garden; a glimpse of lindens and pine-trees. A magnificent day in the beginning of September. Empire furniture of lemonwood decorated with bronze. A large china stove in the centre of the wall on the left. In front of it a door. On the right, two doors.

The first leads to the apartments of_ MARIA LOUISA. _In front of the window on the left at the back an Erard piano of the period, and a harp.

A big table on the right, and against the right wall a small table with shelves filled with books. On the left, facing the audience, a Recamier couch, and a large stand for candlesticks. A great many flowers in vases. Framed engravings on the walls representing the members of the Imperial Family of Austria. A portrait of the Emperor Francis._

_At the rise of the curtain a group of elegant ladies is discovered at the further end of the room. Two of them are seated at the piano, with their backs to the audience, playing a duet. Another is at the harp.

They are playing at sight, amid much laughter and many interruptions. A lackey ushers in a modestly dressed young girl who is accompanied by an officer of the Austrian Cavalry. Seeing that no one notices their entrance, these two remain standing a moment in a corner. The_ COUNT DE BOMBELLES _comes in from the door on the right and goes toward the piano. He sees the young girl, and stops, with a smile._

THE LADIES.

[_Surrounding the piano, laughing, and all talking at the same time._]

She misses all the flats!--It's scandalous!-- I'll take the ba.s.s!--Loud pedal!--One! Two!--Harp!

BOMBELLES.

[_To_ THERESA.]

What! You!

THERESA.

Good-day, my Lord Bombelles!

A LADY.

[_At the piano._]

_Mi, sol._

THERESA.

I enter on my readership--

ANOTHER LADY.

[_At the piano._]

The flats!

THERESA.

It's thanks to you.

BOMBELLES.

My dear Theresa! Nothing!

You are my relative, and you are French.

THERESA.

[_Presenting the officer._]

Tiburtius--

BOMBELLES.

Ah, your brother!

[_He gives him his hand and pushes forward a chair for_ THERESA.]

Take a seat.

THERESA.

I'm very nervous.

BOMBELLES.

[_With a smile._]

Heavens! What about?

THERESA.

To venture near the persons of the two The Emperor left!

BOMBELLES.

Oh, is that all, my child?

TIBURTIUS.

Our people hated Bonaparte of old--

THERESA.

Yes--but to see--

BOMBELLES.

His widow?