The Manager returns, white, scared, hardly able to speak.

THE MANAGER. Your Highness, an officer asks to see you on behalf
of the Inca of Perusalem.

THE PRINCESS [rising distractedly]. Oh, I can't, really. Oh, what
shall I do?

THE MANAGER. On important business, he says, Your Highness.
Captain Duval.

ERMYNTRUDE. Duval! Nonsense! The usual thing. It is the Inca
himself, incognito.

THE PRINCESS. Oh, send him away. Oh, I'm so afraid of the Inca.
I'm not properly dressed to receive him; and he is so particular:
he would order me to stay in my room for a week. Tell him to call
tomorrow: say I'm ill in bed. I can't: I won't: I daren't: you
must get rid of him somehow.

ERMYNTRUDE. Leave him to me, Your Highness.

THE PRINCESS. You'd never dare!

ERMYNTRUDE. I am an Englishwoman, Your Highess, and perfectly
capable of tackling ten Incas if necessary. I will arrange the
matter. [To the Manager.] Show Her Highness to her bedroom; and
then show Captain Duval in here.