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, the