out of hearing.



THE SECOND SCENE

The Empress's petit lever. The central doors are closed. Those
who enter through them find on their left, on a dais of two broad
steps, a magnificent curtained bed. Beyond it a door in the
panelling leads to the Empress's cabinet. Near the foot of the
bed, in the middle of the room, stands a gilt chair, with the
Imperial arms carved and the Imperial monogram embroidered.

The Court is in attendance, standing in two melancholy rows down
the side of the room opposite to the bed, solemn, bored, waiting
for the Empress to awaken. The Princess Dashkoff, with two
ladies, stands a little in front of the line of courtiers, by the
Imperial chair. Silence, broken only by the yawns and whispers of
the courtiers. Naryshkin, the Chamberlain, stands by the head of
the bed.

A loud yawn is heard from behind the curtains.

NARYSHKIN [holding up a warning hand]. Ssh!

The courtiers hastily cease whispering: dress up their lines: and
stiffen. Dead silence. A bell tinkles within the curtains.
Naryshkin and the Princess solemnly draw them and reveal the
Empress.