DUKE ALVA and DOMINGO walking up and down in silence and separately.
COUNT LERMA comes out of the KING's cabinet, and afterwards DON
RAYMOND OF TAXIS, the Postmaster-General.

LERMA.
Has not the marquis yet appeared?

ALVA.
Not yet.

[LERMA about to re-enter the cabinet.

TAXIS (enters).
Count Lerma! Pray announce me to the king?

LERMA.
His majesty cannot be seen.

TAXIS.
But say
That I must see him; that my business is
Of urgent import to his majesty.
Make haste—it will admit of no delay.

[LERMA enters the cabinet.

ALVA.
Dear Taxis, you must learn a little patience—
You cannot see the king.

TAXIS.
Not see him! Why?

ALVA.
You should have been considerate, and procured
Permission from the Marquis Posa first—
Who keeps both son and father in confinement.

TAXIS.
The Marquis Posa! Right—that is the man
From whom I bring this letter.

ALVA.
Ah! What letter?

TAXIS.
A letter to be forwarded to Brussels.

ALVA (attentively).
To Brussels?

TAXIS.
And I bring it to the king.

ALVA.
Indeed! to Brussels! Heard you that, Domingo?

DOMINGO (joining them).
Full of suspicion!

TAXIS.
And with anxious mien,
And deep embarrassment he gave it to me.

DOMINGO.
Embarrassment! To whom is it directed?

TAXIS.
The Prince of Orange and Nassau.

ALVA.
To William!
There's treason here, Domingo!

DOMINGO.
Nothing less!
In truth this letter must, without delay,
Be laid before the king. A noble service
You render, worthy man—to be so firm
In the discharge of duty.

TAXIS.
Reverend sir!
'Tis but my duty.

ALVA.
But you do it well.

LERMA (coming out of the cabinet, addressing TAXIS).
The king will see you.
[TAXIS goes in.
Is the marquis come?

DOMINGO.
He has been sought for everywhere.

ALVA.
'Tis strange!
The prince is a state prisoner! And the king
Knows not the reason why!

DOMINGO.
He never came
To explain the business here.

ALVA.
What says the king?

LERMA.
The king spoke not a word.

[A noise in the cabinet.

ALVA.
What noise is that?

TAXIS (coming out of the cabinet).
Count Lerma!
[Both enter.

ALVA (to DOMINGO).
What so deeply can engage them.

DOMINGO.
That look of fear! This intercepted letter!
It augurs nothing good.

ALVA.
He sends for Lerma!
Yet he must know full well that you and I
Are both in waiting.

DOMINGO.
Ah! our day is over!

ALVA.
And am I not the same to whom these doors
Flew open once? But, ah! how changed is all
Around me and how strange!

[DOMINGO approaches the cabinet door softly, and remains
listening before it.

ALVA (after a pause).
Hark! All is still
And silent as the grave!' I hear them breathe.

DOMINGO.
The double tapestry absorbs the sounds!

ALVA.
Away! there's some one coming. All appears
So solemn and so still—as if this instant
Some deep momentous question were decided.