Koll. Well, call it so if you like. It exists; that is the point. And, since it exists, we must make it as honest and as serviceable as we can.
The King. Your health, Koll! (Drinks to him.)
Flink (moving away from them). No true republican would agree with you.
Gran. You are wrong there. (FLINK gives a start of surprise.)
The King (who has seen FLINK's surprise, gets up). Listen to me! Suppose we had a king who said: "Either you help me to establish a democratic monarchy—purged of all traces of absolutism, purged of falsehood—or else I abdicate—"
Flink. Bah!
The King. I only say, "suppose"! You know quite well that the cousin of the present king, the heir apparent, is a bigoted—
Koll (who has been exchanging glances with GRAN while the KING was speaking, breaks in hurriedly). Don't go on!
The King (with a laugh). I won't!—And his mother, who rules him—
Flink.—is even worse!