John. Why, yes, now you mention it, that also has occurred to me.
Anne. Well, why doesn’t he?
John. Perhaps the Countess isn’t willing.
Who is this “Anne”? What is her last name? Is she the niece of “Duke”? How could we learn from the text that “Duke” is John Hathaway? It is the stage direction which gives us that information. And what are we to do with this whole Burke’s Peerage,—the Prime Minister, the Countess, the Slave? The author is depending for identification upon a list of dramatis personæ just preceding what has been quoted:
Time, present day.
Characters:
Anne Chesterfield, “The Princess.”
John Hathaway, Anne’s guardian, “The Duke.”
Caroline Hathaway, John’s aunt, “Head of the War Department.”
Doctor Stirling, a friend, “The Prime Minister.”