_Zir._ I voted no.

Megario laid my doubts.

_Her._ Did he do that?

_Zir._ He countered to their teeth.

_Her._ [_To Megario_] So merciful Is hate?

_Meg._ The prince's death would mean the fall Of Cordiaz, and our houses rock with his.

_Her._ Be clearer, pray you.

_Meg._ Vardas wants the throne, And we've a sour and guilty faction here Who'd see him on it, but they dare not move Against a king yet rich in arms and friends.

And Hudibrand is not so absolute That he may turn the army of a.s.saria On the sole pivot of his word. For that, Even he must knock the sleeping nation up And ask good leave.

_Her._ You'd say, sir, Hudibrand Would favor Vardas?

_Zir._ Short and plain, he does.

_Her._ What then?

_Meg._ The a.s.sarians are proud, and where They think their honor's p.r.i.c.ked, their pride out-tops Their judgment. Chartrien's death, whose ugly weight Must lie with Cordiaz, will inflame their hearts Till Hudibrand may send an army on us, His people clapping to 't. In open day They'll choose the road his cunning cut by night, And pray him take it.

_Zir._ Ay, and where are we, With Vardas crowned in Goldusan?

_Her._ I see.

_Meg._ He'd like my million acres in Peonia Sliced for his foreign hounds!

[_Enter an officer_]

_Zir._ What trouble now?

_Off._ Prince Chartrien has escaped.

_Meg._ And you in charge?

_Off._ I sent him with good men, or so I thought, Being pressed to another way----

_Meg._ His guards,--what name?

_Off._ Vinaldo, and a sergeant, who----

_Meg._ Vinaldo!

He's on the blue list, turning fast to black.

Did you not know it?

_Off._ I held him, sir, the pick Of loyalty.

_Meg._ Well,--on. What else?

_Off._ They reached The grove, pa.s.sed in, and after prudent time, The guards came out, smug as all right, and now They're gone,--clear foot,--will doff you from the hills.

_Meg._ A tale for Vardas! You may save your beard, But not your neck.

_Off._ I'll not shake yet. The prince Is in the grove. We'll soon uncover him.

_Zir._ The walls are picketed?

_Off._ A double watch Is on.

_Zir._ That's well enough.

_Off._ On chance he makes The wall, I've reinforced the river guard.

_Meg._ Both sides?

_Off._ A close patrol, both east and west.

Though he had fishes' gills and dived the stream, He'd not get by. That way is fast against him As Belam's iron door.

_Meg._ [_To Hernda_] You're ill?

_Her._ No, no!

I'm well--quite well.

_Meg._ The lily in your cheek Lies not so bravely.

_Off._ [_To Ziralay_] If he gets out of this, He'll steer around the moon. We'll find him, sir.

But he's most darkly hid. Has made a coat Of leaves and plays the grouse trick on us.

_Zir._ Come!

His majesty must know. [_Ziralay and officer go into house_]

_Meg._ How may I help you? Let the service be Of such poor nature as your dog might give, And pride will whistle to it.

_Her._ O, my lord, I half believe you. When our angels fall, Then devils are not black. And I have lost My father.

_Meg._ Devils! You've a tongue.

_Her._ Forgive A heart unmantled, and too wild to choose What word may veil it. I would say, my lord, In this discolored world I now begin To find you fair,----

_Meg._ O, heavenly retraction!

_Her._ And if I ask a service it will be No paltry one, but such as makes the king Bow to the knight.

_Meg._ I'll prove this grace Is native in me, and not solely lent Of your new bounty!

_Her._ Would you save the life Of Chartrien?