takes the cup upon the Nubian's right. He gazes at the priest. He looks round at the Ambassador, but sees nothing in that watchful, expressionless face.

[He glances sidelong at the priest, then drinks, draining the cup at some length. He puts it down in silence. The face of the Ambassador and the whole bulk of the Nubian remain motionless.

King: An inestimable wine!

Ambassador: It is the Emperor's joy.

King: Send for my Questioners.

[There are weird whistles. Two dark men run on in loin clothes.

Ask these two priests the Seven Questions.

[The Questioners run nimbly up to the two priests and lead them away by the arm.

The Two Acolytes: O, O, O. Oh, oh.

[They show extreme horror. The Ambassador bows to the King.

King: You do not leave us at once?

Ambassador: 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 Ambassador; 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 gods? (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 gods.

[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 gods, who alone see future things, would say the gods 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 gods! He said it was the gods!... 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!

[Exeunt Questioners.

So ... It was the gods.

[The acolytes are crouched upon the floor. He does not notice them since they ceased to moan.

The gods! With what dark and dreadful thing have they clouded the future?

Well, I will face it! But what is it? Is it one of those things a strong man can bear? Or is it——?

The future is more terrible than the grave, that has its one secret only.

No man, he said, could say that the gods had advised me ill when they bade me drink out of a poisoned cup.

What have the gods seen? What dreadful work have they overlooked where Destiny sits alone, making evil years? The gods, he said, who alone see future things.

Yes, I have known men who never were warned by the gods, and did not drink poison, and came upon evil days, suddenly like a ship upon rocks no mariner knows. Yes, poison to some of them would have been very