Albert—Certainly, certainly.
Agi—It carries a grave responsibility. . . . My teacher, my mother and my sister . . . it is only on their account that I prize my insignificant life . . . when it . . . [looks at Alexandra] when it's in danger. [Silence. He raises his glass.] I drink to the welfare of the beautiful young princess. [Drains the glass in a single gulp. Symphorosa nudges Beatrice repeatedly with her elbow.]
Albert—Prosit! That was a mighty draught! [Smiling, he nudges his neighbors.]
Hyacinth—That was the draught of a novice. One doesn't drink heavy wine like this so quickly.
Agi—I didn't know, father. I never had the pleasure of drinking it before.
Hyacinth—Then let me introduce you with appropriate ceremony. This is Tokay, my boy, and of the very oldest.
Beatrice—And it is drunk with dessert, and not with the soup.
Hyacinth—A two-fold error: you drank too soon and you drank too much.
Agi—I didn't know, father. I must own it was the first glass of wine I ever drank in my life.
Hyacinth—Not really?
Agi—Really, father. . . . There, you see, that, too, had to happen to-night. [Alexandra empties her own glass.]
