Lady
The mountebank, I forget his name. He has a Latin name besides, which I forget also, but they say that when he appears....
Court Usher [announces]
The Queen.
[The Queen arrives surrounded by a brilliant court. Josephine attends her, dressed entirely in silver and wearing immense emeralds. Her hair is very formally powdered, and she wears a cherry-coloured cloak. A coloured slave in black moiré carries her train.]
Queen
I am not in a mood for laughing tonight. [She glances at Josephine.] At any rate it is always singularly depressing to go anywhere in order to laugh. And if this clown causes me even to smile he shall have some rare reward.
[Seats herself upon a raised dais. Courtiers group themselves around her. Most of the ladies have seats. Many of the gentlemen sit at their feet.]
Josephine