THE PRINCESS. Oh, please recite some little thing—won't you?
STRÜBEL. No, not yet. Everything at the proper time.
THE PRINCESS. Ah, yes, first I should like to see the princess.
STRÜBEL. No, first I am going to tell you the whole story.
THE PRINCESS. Oh, yes, yes. Please do. [Sits down.
STRÜBEL. Well, then—I had hardly heard that she was here before I was dead in love with her. It was just as quick as a shot, I tell you. Just as if I had waited all my life long to fall in love with her. Besides, I also heard about her beauty—and her sorrow. You see, she had an early love affair.
THE PRINCESS. [Disconcerted.] What? Are they saying that?
STRÜBEL. Yes. It was a young officer who went to Africa because of her—and died there.
THE PRINCESS. And they know that, too?
STRÜBEL. What don't they know? But that's a mere detail—it doesn't concern me. Even the fact that in six months she will become the bride of a grand-duke—even that can make no difference to me. For the present she is my princess. But you're not listening to me!