THE DYNASTS ACT v
NAPOLEON (laughing roughly)
Ha-ha! That's frank. And devilish cruel too!
__Well, write to your husband. Ask him what he
thinks, And let me know.
MADAME METTERNICH
Indeed, sire, why should I ?
There goes the Ambassador, Prince Schwarzenberg, Successor to my spouse. He's now the groove And proper conduit of diplomacy Through whom to broach this matter to his Court.
NAPOLEON
Do you, then, broach it through him, madame, pray ; Now, here, to-night.
MADAME METTERNICH
I will, informally,
To humour you, on this recognizance, That you leave not the business in my hands, But clothe your project in official guise Through him to-morrow ; so safeguarding me From foolish seeming, as the babbler forth Of a fantastic and unheard of dream.
NAPOLEON
FH send Eugene to him, as you suggest.
Meanwhile prepare him. Make your stand-point this :
Children are needful to my dynasty,
And if one woman cannot mould them for me,
Why, then, another must.
[Exit NAPOLEON abruptly.
Dancing continues. Madame METTERNICH sits on, musing. Enter SCHWARZENBERG,
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