pening gates._)
Draw out!

ANTONIO: I have to-day desired some words of this.

_Enter CECCO._

CHARLES: Well, who----?

CECCO: The Cardinal, your grace.

CHARLES: Then go,
And bid our guests. Bring too Diogenes,
Our most amusing raveller of all
Philosophies. Say that the duke, his brother,
Humbly desires it! (_CECCO goes._

FULVIA: And Helena?

CHARLES (_to ANTONIO_): Why do
You start, sir?--Fulvia, we must look to
This callow god our son. Yet, had our court
Two eyes of loveliness to drown his heart,
I'd think on oath 'twere done.
(_Goes to the throne._)

FULVIA (_low to ANTONIO_): Listen. No word
Of Helena!

CHARLES: Now! is it secrets?

FULVIA: Sir,
He scorns to spill a drop of confidence
On my too thirsty questions.

CHARLES: Does he so
Tightly seal up his spirits?

FULVIA: Put the rogue
To prison on stale bread, my lord: I half
Believe he's full of treasons.

CHARLES (_laughing_): Do you hear!
Because you are the son and scout our foes
Justice is not impossible upon you!

_The guests enter, among them HAEMON and BARDAS, following the CARDINAL
JULIAN and his suite, and last HELENA, whom FULVIA leads aside._

CARDINAL: Peace, worthy duke!

CHARLES: And more, lord Cardinal,
We would to-day enlarge our worthiness
With you and with great Rome.

CARDINAL: Firmly I crave
It may be so.

CHARLES: Here unto all our guests
We then do disavow our heresies----
For faith's as air, as ease to life--and seek
At your absolving lips release from our
Rough disobedience. Nor shall we shun
The lash and needed weight of penitence.

(_A murmur of approval._)

JULIAN: These words, great lord, fall wise and soothing well.
Who so confesses, plants beneath his foot
A step to scale all impotence and wrong.
Our royal Pope's conditions shall be told,
Pledge them consenting seal and you shall be
Briefly and fully free. (_Motions his secretary._)

SECRETARY (_opens and reads_): "Whereas the duke
Di Tocca has offended----"

CARDINAL: Pass the offence.
Be it oblivion's. On, the penalty.

SECRETARY: "Therefore