Page 53

"As the curtain rises,
Gleam the crowns -
of seventeen - Prussian - Lieutenants!!"

With this, it suddenly became quiet in our circle.
A low voice whispered:
The opening was exciting and atmospheric!
"Seventeen lieutenants!" shouted someone, "that's enormous!
Are they all in uniform?"

"Naturally!" I explained, measured and cool,
"Except the hero of the story - he is in civvies!"

"Oh God!" yelled the daughter, "oh God, how sad!"

But I said, "That's exactly right!
He is, you see, merely - incognito!"

"Aha!" said the daughter, appeased, "I see!
So in reality, he's also in the military?"

"Pah!" I said, scoffing, "he is much more!!
That is, in the play it comes much later,
But for you, dear audience, I'll tell you now: