Kolinka. No, it's not our father—they're all men that look like soldiers.
Marie. It's the people from the castle come to look for you!
[Door flies open. Enter Ivan and Sascha
with Baron. Prince and Princess rush to him.
Prince and Princess. Father! Father!
Baron. My children! Are you both safe?
Princess. Oh, yes, Father. These children have been so good to us.
Baron. Have they, my dear? Then they have been good to me, too, and I thank them with all my heart.
Kolinka. Oh, we haven't done anything, sir!
Prince. Tell us how you found out where we were, Father?
Baron. In rather a queer way, my son. We didn't miss you just at once, but as soon as we knew you were gone everyone was in a great fright, you may be sure. I started out with Sergius and Smoloff, and half a dozen others to search for you in the forest. We hadn't gone a hundred yards from the castle when we met the strangest little old woman I ever saw, all dressed in gray, and wrinkled and bent——