Page:Fashions for Men And The Swan Two Plays (NY 1922).pdf/253

 —Certainly, certainly.

—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 ] 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. nudges repeatedly with her elbow.'']

—Prosit! That was a mighty draught! [Smiling, he nudges his neighbors.]

—That was the draught of a novice. One doesn't drink heavy wine like this so quickly.

—I didn't know, father. I never had the pleasure of drinking it before.

—Then let me introduce you with appropriate ceremony. This is Tokay, my boy, and of the very oldest.

—And it is drunk with dessert, and not with the soup.

—A two-fold error: you drank too soon and you drank too much.

—I didn't know, father. I must own it was the first glass of wine I ever drank in my life.

—Not really?

—Really, father There, you see, that, too, had to happen to-night. [ empties her own glass.]