The Prince and the Showgirl Page #2

Prince Regent of Carpathia. . .

. . .requests Miss Elsie Marina's

company at supper this evening. . .

. . .June 21, 1911 at 12 midnight. . .

. . .at Carpathian Embassy. . .

. . .46 Belgrave Square. "

Is it a joke?

"The honorable Peter Northbrook

will be at the theater at 11: 15. . .

. . .to escort Miss Marina

to the embassy. "

You're in, dear.

Gosh, I don't have a thing to wear.

Please, ladies, please.

Time is getting short.

-This won't do.

-I think this one's the best. Honest.

Who else will be at the party

besides His Majesty?

-His Majesty?

-Yes, that grand duke.

Oh, my dear, you quite startled me.

Miss Marina, I think

before you meet the regent again. . .

. . .you should learn

the correct form of address.

Otherwise there may be a few

petits moments d'embarras.

I just hate that.

Your host is correctly addressed

as Your Grand Ducal Highness or sir.

As a prince of Hungary before his

marriage to the queen of Carpathia. . .

. . .he is correctly entitled to the

appellation of lmperial and Royal.

At that time,

by his own request. . .

. . .Serene Highness was continued

until he became regent.

I don't know what

you're talking about.

It's most important that you should.

I don't even know who you are,

much less who he is.

I'm His Grand Ducal Highness's equerry

and the deputy head. . .

. . .of the Far Eastern Department

of the Foreign Office.

Deputy head of the Far Eastern

Department. Imagine.

I still don't know anything.

I mean, Royal and lmperial.

Isn't one enough?

It all goes back

to the Holy Roman Empire.

The grand duke is a nephew by marriage

of the Emperor Franz Josef of Austria.

No wisecracks about Austria.

I sincerely hope no wisecracks

about anything.

In these troubled times the lightest

remark can have bad repercussions.

I can see the history books:

The War of Elsie's Remark.

How's the you-know-what?

It's wonderful over the you-know-what.

You can come out.

-Well?

-Very nice.

Is that all you can say?

Very nice, indeed.

Miss Marina, there is

one other small point.

In conversation with royalty,

only speak when you're addressed.

-What?

-Wait for the cue before you speak.

Good night, Mr. Northbrook.

Good night. I won't wait up.

Sure he hasn't got me mixed up

with Maisie Springfield?

He's a very dear friend of hers,

she tells us.

I'm quite sure of that.

Why me? I just have that bit

in the second act.

That's the bit he liked.

But why me?

I wonder why he wants me.

Tough question, all right.

Don't forget tomorrow morning.

Must leave here sharp at 6:20.

So don't be too late. Good night.

Be good.

Gosh!

This is the first time

I've seen an embassy.

Surely not.

After all, there are nine embassies

in London at present.

Anyway, it's the first time

I've ever been. . .

. . .inside one.

Gosh!

This is really something.

Something.

This hallway and everything.

Personally, I find the decorations

a little vulgar.

Well, all I can say is,

give me vulgarity!

We needn't have hurried.

We're the first ones.

-This way, Miss Marina.

-Upstairs?

What's the idea,

a supper party upstairs?

Well, it's quite an informal party.

But think about bringing the food

from the kitchen.

I fancy it'll be a cold supper,

Miss Marina.

They still have to carry it up.

Is his wife going to be here?

No. Her late Majesty passed over,

as they say, some 10 years ago.

-lf you should meet the Queen Dowager--

-Another one?

She is addressed as

Your Majesty or ma'am.

-The young king, the regent's son--

-Oh, no.

It's unlikely that you will meet him,

but he is Your Majesty or sir.

I'm shaking.

This is worse than a first night.

We're still the first ones,

aren't we?

Gee, this is all right too, isn't it?

-Is that the dining room in there?

-No.

-Well, is it in there?

-No.

-There, then?

-No.

Well, where is it?

Incidentally, where is His Regency?

His Grand Ducal Highness.

All right, but where is he?

He was called away

to an important meeting.

Two places!

Not in front of them.

I know, but two places?

Please control yourself.

There's no need for panic.

This is a plot, isn't it?

Supper for two, you knew all the time!

I did have an idea when I received

the grand duke's instructions--

There's a word for what you are. . .

. . .and it's not deputy head

of the Far Eastern Department.

Do not leap to conclusions.

I don't have to leap to conclusions.

I'm walking straight out!

Why panic over a harmless

tte--tte supper?

I know all about harmless suppers.

I've had to fight my way out of a few.

"Champagne?" and "I hope you

like caviar. Something cold. . .

. . .because we don't want

servants around.

It's more fun serving ourselves,

don't you think?"

And then after supper,

"You must be tired.

Why don't you put your feet

up on this sofa?"

No, I know every move.

You're confusing this

with a private room at Romano's.

What's the difference,

except the longer run to the door?

A duke can run just as fast

as the next man.

Oh, please, please, Miss Marina.

Pas devant.

Don't give me that pas devant stuff.

Make an excuse.

My aunt's ill or something.

I'm awfully sorry, really. Goodbye!

Oh, please, please, Miss Marina.

Do you want to get me

and the Foreign Office in trouble?

Since you asked, yes.

You don't want to insult

the grand duke. Have supper with him.

He's a most charming

conversationalist.

After supper, all you have to say is,

"It's been delightful, now I must go. "

That's a swell exit line.

But can you guarantee the exit?

This is a Balkan grand duke.

-Educated in England.

-That's what I mean.

No. Listen, please.

Miss Marina, please.

Suppose I guarantee your exit,

as you call it.

Suppose after supper I come in

with a message from a hospital. . .

. . .where your aunt has been taken

after an accident?

Well, I don't know.

No, I don't think so at all.

Why, thank you.

How do you do? So good of you to come

at such short notice!

-That's all right, Your Regency.

-Grand Ducal!

That's all right, Your Grand Ducal.

Highness. Grand Ducal Highness.

Oh, the hell with it.

I apologize for being late.

The crowds are gathering

and my motor was held up.

-That's all right.

-I suppose you're ready to rest.

-We have a full day ahead.

-Indeed.

The carriage leaves for Buckingham

Palace at 9:
00. Be here at 8:20.

Very good, sir.

Good night, Your Grand Ducal Highness.

Were you surprised

to get my invitation?

I'll say I was. I was so surprised,

I didn't think you meant me.

Of course I meant you.

I had your name carefully down

on my program.

In matters of this kind,

I'm most methodical.

Who did you think I meant, if not you?

Well, Maisie Springfield?

Oh, no! Maisie Springfield.

She's quite what I would call old hat.

Oh, and am I what you call new hat?

Excellent, Miss. . . .

Miss. . . .

You don't have your program handy.

-Capital. Most amusing.

-Elsie Marina's my name.

How stupid of me.

That's my stage name, Elsie Marina.

My dad was a Marine.

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