fifteenth lamb chop. [The lackeys, at the serving table, are preparing to serve the soup.]
Beatrice—[Sweetly.] I hope you like cold bouillon, Albert.
Albert—My favorite summer beverage.
Beatrice—I am so glad.
Symphorosa—[Sweetly.] What a fortunate coincidence!
Hyacinth—How long they are taking to serve it.
Beatrice—Here it comes now, dear. [Cæsar, the two Hussars and Alfred serve the soup.] You can't keep it on the table, for it gets warm. [Each is served, and tastes the soup. Ceremonial silence.]
Agi—[Unexpectedly, though not loudly, breaks the silence.] And the head of the eagle—I really must finish that sentence—is a star called Altair or Alpha Aquilæ, the star whose brilliant green radiance illuminates the sky to-night. That is what I wanted to say.
Alexandra—You had quite a difficult time reaching the end of that sentence.
Albert—Doubtless the professor speaks so beautifully because Xara likes to listen to him.
Beatrice—It was beautiful, but I didn't understand a word of it.
Agi—I don't know how to speak beautifully. Her highness reproached me with it just a while ago.
Albert—[To Alexandra.] Did you?
