”——hangs Nisus’ crown and life.”
“Qu’est-ze qu’elle changte?” cried the countess-palatine. Then she let herself out on costumes, speaking in a noisy voice.
Walter listened like a finch. Not that he understood very well; but everything strange interested him intensely.
Not a soul was touched by the tragic bravery of King Minos; no one was listening. Poor Rotgans! Afterwards it was said that Napoleon had been especially pleased with “our Snoel” and with “our Watlier.” Goodness, Napoleon! When he was to be crowned he had Talma the mimic to drill him for the ceremony—instead of saying to Talma: “Look, this is the way an emperor appears when he’s crowned!”
Walter listened attentively; even though he sometimes felt that he could make such verses himself.
During the performance another commotion arose. One of their majesties had asked for a glass of orange lemonade; and this was something the buffetier did not have. A runner was dispatched to the drug-store post haste. He returned with a bottle of lemon-syrup. The situation became threatening. The news spread like fire that they were making a “Majesty” wait for such a trifle. King Minos declared:
“Feelings of pleasure thrill my inner man—”
“De l’eau de fleur d’orange! que diantre!” cried a chamberlain. And Minos noticed that nobody was interested in what was going on in his interior.
A confectioner up on “Olympus” allowed his light to flash out and gave some valuable information; but the police had him by the collar in a jiffy. He was to be dragged away and put in confinement for the present. The technical charge was, “Making a demonstration for the House of Orange.” At that time the House of Orange was in exile, and Napoleon’s brother was king of Holland.
“Feelings of pleasure thrill my inner man—”