THE LEADING DEMOCRAT—Then why are you afraid?
THE KING—Give me the robe. I am not afraid. (The Tailor stoops and seems to take something out of a bag. He extends the invisible object to the King, who clumsily pretends to hang it over his arm.)
THE TAILOR—Oh, not that way, your majesty. It will wrinkle. (Painstakingly he smooths out a little air and returns it to the astonished monarch.)
THE KING (to the Leading Republican, the Leading Democrat and the two Courtiers)—You will meet me at the great gate of the palace in three minutes and accompany me on my promenade through the city. (Exit the King. The Leading Republican draws close to the first Courtier.)
LEADING REPUBLICAN—Wonderful fabric that, was it not?
FIRST COURTIER—Much the finest I have ever seen.
LEADING REPUBLICAN—Now, what shade should you say it was? It's hard to tell shades in this light, isn't it?
FIRST COURTIER—I had no trouble, sir. The robe is a bright scarlet.
LEADING REPUBLICAN—Scarlet, eh? (He moves over close to the second Courtier.)
LEADING REPUBLICAN—Wonderful fabric that we saw just now, wasn't it?