STRAMMFEST. Delusion! Folly! He is some circus acrobat; and you are in love with him.
THE GRAND DUCHESS. I swear I am not in love with him. I swear I will never marry him.
STRAMMFEST. Then who is he?
THE GRAND DUCHESS. Anybody in the world but you would have guessed long ago. He is under your very eyes.
STRAMMFEST [staring past her right and left]. Where?
THE GRAND DUCHESS. Look out of the window.
He rushes to the window, looking for the officer. The Grand Duchess takes off her cloak and appears in the uniform of the Panderobajensky Hussars.
STRAMMFEST [peering through the window]. Where is he? I can see no one.
THE GRAND DUCHESS. Here, silly.
STRAMMFEST [turning]. You! Great Heavens! The Bolshevik Empress!