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Prince: Nobody knew it,Óbody in the whole world.
Count : But you might have told it to me. I really don’t under-
stand- By George, it wasn't fair.
Prince: I was waiting to see how the boy would bevelop¬
you never can tell.
Why, yes, with a maxed pedigree, But now you are
Count:
sure?
Prince: Yes, he's a splendid chap.
Count: (Embrading him again) And where did you keep him?
Prince: For the first years quite a way from Vienna in
The Tyrol.
Count: With Leasants?
Prince: On a little estate. His first schooling he had
in Innsbruck. And later I kept him in the Kremps Gymnasium.
Count: And you visited him oocasionally?
Prince: Of course.
Count: And what did he believe?
Prince: Up to a few days ago he thought he was without
parents-and he took me for his dead father s friend.
Countess: (Appears on the balcony) Good-morning, Prince Egon.
Prince: Good-morning, Mizzi.
Count: Don't you want to come down?
Countess: If I don't disturb you. (Disappears)
Count: What shall we say to Mizzi?
Prince: I would leave that to you,. But as I am going to
adopt the boy and he will probably bear my name in a few
days- through His Majesty's Grace-
Count: What?
Prince: The best thing would be to tell her the truth.
Count: Of course, of course, and why not? And as you are
going to adopt him........ isn’t it silly? To a father the
daughter always remains a little girl even if she's an old
maid.
Countess (Appears thirty-seven years- very good looking-
White dress, florentine straw hat- she kisses the Count-
then she shakes hands with the Prince) Well, Prince, Egon,
how are you? We don’t see much of you now always.