THE 'DYNASTS
Send, then, a courier prompt to Paris : ,say The offer made for the Archduchess' hand I do accept—with this defined reserve, That no condition, treaty, bond, attach To such alliance save the tie itself. There are some sacrifices whose grave rites No bargain must contaminate. This is one— This personal gift of a beloved child !
METTERNICH (leaving)
I'll see to it this hour, your Majesty,
And cast the words in keeping with your wish.
(To himself as he goes)
Decently done! Y . , He slipped out "sacrifice,"
And scarce could hide his heartache for his girl.
Well ached it!—But when these things have to be
* It is as well to breast them stoically.
[Exit METTERNICH. The clouds draw over.
SCENE IV
LONDON. A CLUB IN ST. JAMES'S STREET
A winter midnight. Two members are conversing by the fire, and others are seen lolling in the background, some of them snoring*
FIRST MEMBER .
I learn from a private letter that it was carried out in the Emperor's Cabinet at the Tuileries—just off the throne-room, where they all assembled in the evening,—Boney and the wife of his bosom (in pure
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