Magistrate.—Certainly, Your Highness. The wife of the game keeper was a young girl, raised with the Countess, and later became one of her attendants. When later she died, leaving a little daughter, the Countess developed a great interest and real affection for the child.

(Count Dejm steps out from the left: a wrap is cast over his shoulder. He is accompanied by a servant with his baggage.)

Millesimo, magistrate, Count Dejm, servant, later Beauvalle and Havelka.

Dejm.—We will make better time to the castle this way than by taking the carriage and following the high road.

Millesimo (Seeing the new arrivals).—The noble, superb,—Count Dejm!

Dejm (Astonished).—Millesimo,—what are you doing here!

Millesimo.—Yes, what a meeting! Two wanderers in the wood! How idyllic. (Laughing) How lucky! As though purposely designed by us. This is really very unusual.

Dejm.—But just tell me, where did you come from?

Millesimo.—I? Where else than from Prague? I run away, escape with an unfinished meal before me, to seek protection with Beauvalle from the enemy.

Dejm.—Then are they near us?

Millesimo.—Yes, there in the cottage,—there you will find a fawn, a young, shy fawn.

Dejm.—That is splendid, indeed!

Beauvalle (Coming from the cottage, talking to the game keeper who escorts him three steps, makes a bow, then returns to the house again. Dejm approaches Beauvalle.)

Dejm.—Beauvalle,—do you welcome your new guest? (Goes up to greet him.)

Beauvalle.—Aj, Dejm! (Greets him.) Today we are exceptionally favored.

Dejm.—I come from your neighbor, Furstenberg, to discuss some weighty matters with you.

Beauvalle (Carefully).—What is this, so important that you speak of?