The King. You don't feel any awkwardness about it, then?
The Princess. Not a bit! The good folk have to maintain many worse parasites than me!—By the way, talking of parasites, is it true that you have pensioned off all your lords-in-waiting and their hangers-on?
The King. Yes.
The Princess. Ha, ha, ha! But why did you make the special stipulation that they should live in Switzerland?
The King. Because there is no court in Switzerland, and—
The Princess. And so they could not fall into temptation again! I have had many a good laugh at the thought of it. But it has its serious side too, you know; because your Majesty cannot dispense with a court.
The King. Why not?
The Princess. Well, suppose some day you are "joined in the bonds of holy matrimony," as the parsons so beautifully put it?
The King. If I were, it would be for the sake of knowing what family life is.
The Princess. Like any other citizen?