Part 9 (1/2)

PHEDRO

And in your marriage, my lord?

PRINCE

I yearn for surprises. Of course the right sort of surprises.

PHEDRO

You will get them, my lord.

PRINCE

[_Who is not attending him but listening to Dea's song._]

What?

PHEDRO

My sixth sense whispers to me, my lord, that you are on the eve of many surprises.

[_The noise of the wand of the COURT STEWARD is heard pounding through the park._]

AN APPROACHING VOICE

The Queen's court is arriving. The Queen's court precedes the Queen.

See that the performance is ready. See that the performance is ready.

[_The voice dies away. There is the sound of much commotion in the vicinity of the cart. The voice of DEA ceases and someone calls: GWYMPLANE! GWYMPLANE answering distantly: Yes. URSUS: Hurry. GWYMPLANE: I come. The PRINCE and PHEDRO steal quickly away._]

_CURTAIN_

SCENE 3

[_Courtiers entering. A lady looking through her lorgnette._]

A LADY

I hope this is not going to be too boring.

3D COURTIER

Ah, that, Madame, is the pleasure-seeker's prayer. Save me this night from being bored to death.

2D COURTIER [_a great dandy_]

I hope they have enchanting costumes, and that they are well perfumed.

[_He smells a sc.r.a.p of lace._]

LADY