SCENE II
TIME: two hours later.
PLACE: the Emperor's tent; the Emperor's room.
| THE EMPEROR. |
| FIRST AIDE. |
| SECOND AIDE. |
| LUDWIG. |
[The EMPEROR is seen sitting at a table looking at maps. Enter an AIDE. He salutes.]
EMPEROR. Well?
AIDE. The prisoner has returned, sire.
EMPEROR. What prisoner?
AIDE. The one sent out for the test, sire.
EMPEROR. Who was sent?
AIDE. Ludwig, the prisoner who has been ill for so long.
EMPEROR. Ah, yes; bid him enter.
(Aide goes; he reënters with LUDWIG, who wears an old, torn army cloak over his uniform. He salutes.)
I notice you are a bit lame, Ludwig.
LUDWIG. Yes, sire; in my left leg. My dog was hit at the same time.
EMPEROR. Does your dog go to battle with you?
LUDWIG. If he can slip into the ranks, sire. He always goes where I go, sire.
EMPEROR. Then he went with you to-day, of course?
LUDWIG. Yes, sire.
EMPEROR. You are sure the boys didn't see you?
LUDWIG. No one saw me. I kept a sharp lookout. When I came to a clear space I went to one side, hiding behind trees, to look ahead. Then I ran across.
EMPEROR. That must have tired you, Ludwig. You're not quite well yet.
LUDWIG. I found I couldn't leap the streams; I had to climb down the banks and wade them.
EMPEROR. You rested by the way, didn't you?
LUDWIG. Yes, sire, and once I stopped to pick berries.
EMPEROR. You made the return trip by boat up the creek?
LUDWIG. Yes, sire.
EMPEROR. That is all.
[The Aide and Ludwig go. The Emperor claps his hands. Enter SECOND AIDE. He salutes.]
EMPEROR (to Aide). Have the lads returned?
AIDE. No, sire.
EMPEROR. Do you know when the Captain expects them?
AIDE. In about half an hour, sire.
EMPEROR. Bid their mothers return at that time. I wish them to be present at the test.
AIDE. Yes, sire.
[He salutes and goes.]
EMPEROR (slowly). Let me see—a lame man; a lame dog; running footprints across open spaces; wading streams instead of leaping them; stopping to pick berries—Why, the story reads itself!
(He sits at table; takes up maps.)
Well, we shall see what we shall see!