PRINCE (alone).
This is a strange Royal Household indeed! The servants stand about the anterooms in their shirt-sleeves—doubtless from motives of economy to save their liveries. Well, the great hour has arrived—the die will fall. Wilhelmine—she—she alone I love—and she is to consent to unite herself to the painted picture of a Prince of Wales—the colored silhouette of an Austrian Arch-Duke whom she has never seen! Ah, no, my fate rests on the Genius of Love—on chance, which may be even kinder to me than I expect. Her parents are of divided minds—thereby do I gain time to win Wilhelmine's heart—for myself. The King is coming. Now I can listen to his favorable opinions regarding—Austria.
SCENE V
The KING comes in, in dress uniform, with the grand cordon.
PRINCE (looking at him).
Is that not—
KING.
You are surprised? It was a slight mistake in identity.
PRINCE (embarrassed).
Your Majesty—I am a stranger—