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!
SCENE III
TIME: a half hour later.
PLACE: the Emperor's tent; the ante-room.
| THE EMPEROR. |
| THE GENERAL. |
| THE CAPTAIN. |
| AN AIDE. |
| THE MAYOR'S WIFE AND SON. |
| THE RICH MERCHANT'S WIFE AND SON. |
| THE POOR WOODCUTTER'S WIFE AND SON, PIERRE. |