[The calm of the AMBASSADOR and the impassivity of the NUBIAN grow ominous. The two priests hang over the tripod. They cast herbs upon it. They pass their hands over it. The herbs begin to smoulder. A smoke goes up. The priests bend over the smoke. Presently they step back from it.
FIRST PRIEST: The gods sleep.
KING: They sleep! The gods that guard the Golden Isles?
FIRST PRIEST: The gods sleep.
KING: Importune them as never before. I will make sacrifice of many sheep. I will give emeralds to the Monks of the Sun.
[The second acolyte moves nearer to the tripod and beats listlessly on his great gong at about the pace of a great clock striking slowly.
FIRST PRIEST: We will importune the gods as never before.
[They heap up more herbs and spices. The smoke grows thicker and thicker. It streams upwards. They hover about it as before. At a sign the gong ceases.
The gods have spoken.
KING: What is their message?
FIRST PRIEST: Drink of the cup upon the Nubian's left.
KING: Ah. My gods defend me.
[He seizes the cup boldly. He looks straight at the AMBASSADOR, whose face remains expressionless, merely watching. He lifts the cup upon the Nubian's left a little up from the tray.
[He glances towards the priests.
[Suddenly he starts. He has seen a strange expression upon the face of the priest. He puts the cup down. He strides a step nearer and looks at his face.
PRIEST!-Priest!--What is that look in your eyes?
FIRST PRIEST: O King, I know not. I have given the message of the gods.
[The KING continues to search out his face.
KING: I mistrust it.
FIRST PRIEST: It is the message of the gods.
KING: I will drink of the other cup!
[The KING steps back to his place in the front of his throne where the Nubian stands beside him. He 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?