[He goes; the wind whistles a popular air through the
    keyhole.

Joedi (nervously).  What an appalling evening!  I have never seen the like of such a sky.

Ponsch.  There is something about you this evening—­how beautiful you are looking!  Bring BEBBI-PONSCH.

Joedi (fetching the Infant Prince).  Here he is.  Why do you look so strangely at him?

Bebbi-Ponsch (a small, but important part).  Is Pa-a-par poo-oorly?  Won’t he p’ay wiz me no mo-ore?

Ponsch.  The soul of a little stage-child looms from under his green eyes!  OLENIKKE was right, and I—­ No matter.  I will open the window.

    [Opens it, and throws BEBBI-P. out.  Sound of water-splash
    audible.

Joedi.  Oh my!  Oh my!  What have you done?  He has fallen right into the moat—­on one of the swans!

Ponsch.  Indeed—­on one of the swans? (A pot of mignonnette is blown off the window-sill by a gust.) I will close the window. (Closes it; a hailstorm beats on the panes.) Is that really a hailstorm—­or only birds?

Joedi.  I can hear nothing. (P. strikes her suddenly on the head with staff.) Someone is knocking at my door.  Come in!  I cannot see anything now.

Ponsch.  Can you, indeed, see nothing? [He strikes her again.

Joedi.  Now I can see stars.  I feel as if purple mills were going round in my head.  I shall never kiss anybody any more.  Oh! oh! oh! [She dies.

Ponsch.  She was a beautiful woman, do you know?  Oh, how lonely I shall feel hereafter! (A black dog is heard scratching and sniffing outside the door.) It is only Tobbi.  Someone has trod on your toe, my poor Tobbi.  Come in.  Give me your paw. (Tobbi enters, and flies suddenly at his nose.) Oh, my nose is bleeding!  Let us go to the pond.  I do not know why I feel so melancholy this evening. [He goes out, pursued by Tobbi.

    SAMPLE No.  II.—­A Hall in Castle Ollendorff.  A Marionnette
    Theatre at the back of Stage.  DJOE, a Belgian Bedell, and
    Dutch Dolls-in-waiting discovered.

Djoe.  Green flames are running along the walls, and blue globes are bounding about the back garden.  I have never seen such a night.  Here comes the Prince.

    [Enter PONSCH, conscience-stricken; all bow.

Ponsch.  I am not melancholy, but I have hardly any hair.  Let the Play commence!

    Curtain of Marionnette Show rises; a Clown is seen chasing
    a butterfly.

A Councillor.  Oh! oh! oh! [Uproar; the Clown and Butterfly are withdrawn.  A Skeleton appears on the Stage, and dances his head and limbs off in a blue light.

Ponsch (rising).  That was done purposely!  You are driving at something.  Confess it!  Is there no topic more cheerful?  I cannot bear it any longer!