II.
You shall be Don Alfonso Fontanares, Duke of--Neptunado, Grandee of
Spain.

The Duke of Lerma
Sire, the statutes concerning nobility--

Philip II.
Silence! Duke of Lerma. It is the duty of the king to exalt the man of
genius above all other men and thus to honor the ray of light which
God has given to him.

The Grand Inquisitor
Sire--

Philip II.
What would you?

The Grand Inquisitor
We did not imprison the man on the charge that he had commerce with
the devil, nor because of his impiety, nor because he springs from a
family suspected of heresy; but for the safety of monarchies. Printing
has permitted clever men to communicate their thoughts to others and
the result has been--Luther, whose word has flown abroad in every
direction. But this man is endeavoring to make out of all the nations
of the earth a single people, and, before a multitude like this, the
Holy Office trembles for the fate of monarchy.

Philip II.
All progress moves heavenward.

The Grand Inquisitor
Heaven does not command many things which yet it does not hinder men
from doing.

Philip II.
Our duty consists in bringing good out of evil things and in this work
of amelioration gathering all within one circle, whose centre is the
throne. Do you not see what is here at stake, even the realization of
that universal dominion long-sought for by my glorious father? (To
Fontanares) When you have won the rank of duke and Spanish grandee of
the first class, I will put upon your breast the Golden Fleece; you
shall then be appointed Grand Master of Naval Construction in Spain
and the Indies. (To a minister) President, you will issue, this very
day, under pain of my displeasure, the order to put at the disposal of
this man, in our port of Barcelona, such a vessel as he desires, and
--see that no obstacle interferes with his enterprise.

Quinola
Sire--

Philip II.
What do you desire?

Quinola
While you are here, grant, sire, full pardon to a wretch named
Lavradi, who was sentenced by a deaf magistrate.

Philip II.
Because the judge was deaf, must the king be blind?

Quinola
No, but indulgent, sire, which is almost the same thing.

Fontanares
Pardon! Grant pardon to the only man who has sustained me in my
struggle!

Philip II. (to a minister)
This man has talked with me, and I gave him my hand to kiss; issue to
him letters of my full pardon.

The Queen (to the king)
If this man (she points to Fontanares) is one of those great
d