THE TWO ACOLYTES: O, O, O. Oh, oh.
[_They show extreme horror. The_ AMBa.s.sADOR _bows to the King._
KING: You do not leave us at once?
AMBa.s.sADOR: I go back to the Emperor, whom it is happiness to obey, and length of days.
[_He bows and walks away. The_ HERALD _marches out, then the_ AMBa.s.sADOR; _the_ PAGE, _the_ DWARF _and the_ NUBIAN _follow._
[_Exeunt._
[_The_ HERALD _is heard blowing upon his trumpet the same notes as when he entered, one merry bar of music._
[_The tray and two precious cups, one empty and the other full, are left glittering near the_ KING.
KING (_looking at cups_): Those are rare emeralds that glisten there!
Yet an evil gift. (_To the moaning acolytes._) Be silent! Your priests sinned strangely.
[_The acolytes continue to moan._
[_Enter one of the_ QUESTIONERS. _He has sweat on his face and his hair has become damp and unkempt._
QUESTIONER: We have asked the Seven Questions.
KING: Well?
QUESTIONER: They have not answered.
KING: Not answered!
QUESTIONER: Neither man has confessed.
KING: Oho! Do I keep Questioners that bring me no answers?
QUESTIONERS: We questioned them to the uttermost.
KING: And neither man confessed?
QUESTIONER: They would not confess.
KING: Ask them the Supreme Question.
[_The acolytes break out into renewed moaning._
QUESTIONER: It shall be asked, O King.
[_Exit_ QUESTIONER. _The acolytes moan on._
KING: They would have made me drink of a poisoned cup. I say there is poison in that cup. Your priests would have had me drink it. (_The acolytes only answer by moans._) Bid them confess. Bid them confess their crime and why it was done, and the Supreme Question shall be spared them. (_The acolytes only answer by moans._) Strange! They have done strangely. (_To acolytes._) Why has your priest spoken falsely?
(_The acolytes only moan._) Why has he spoken falsely in the name of the G.o.ds? (_The acolytes moan on._) Be silent! Be silent! May I not question whom I will? (_To himself_). They prophesied falsely in the name of the G.o.ds.
[_Enter the_ QUESTIONERS.
FIRST QUESTIONER: The Supreme Question is asked.
[_The acolytes suddenly cease moaning._
KING: Well?
FIRST QUESTIONER: They would not answer.
KING: They would not answer the Supreme Question?
FIRST QUESTIONER: They spoke at last, but they would not answer the question. They would not confess.
KING: What said they at last?
FIRST QUESTIONER: O, the King"s Majesty, they but spake idly.
KING: What said they?
FIRST QUESTIONER: O, the King"s Majesty, they said nought fitting.
KING: They muttered so that no man heard them clearly?
FIRST QUESTIONER: They spake. But it was not fitting.
KING: Did they speak of small things happening long ago?
FIRST QUESTIONER: O, the King"s Majesty, it was not fitting.
KING: What said they? Speak!
FIRST QUESTIONER: The man you gave to me, O King, said: "No man that knew the counsels of the G.o.ds, who alone see future things, would say the G.o.ds advised King Hamaran ill when they bade him drink out of a poisoned cup." Then I put the question straightly and he died.
KING: The G.o.ds! He said it was the G.o.ds!... And the other?
SECOND QUESTIONER: He also said the same, O the King"s Majesty.
KING: Both said the same. They were questioned in different chambers?
FIRST QUESTIONER: In different chambers, O King. I questioned mine in the Red Chamber.
KING (_to_ SECOND QUESTIONER): And yours?
SECOND QUESTIONER: In the Chamber of Rats.
KING: Begone!