[Exit the QUEEN, attended by her ladies. ALVA and DOMINGO come forward. ALVA. The queen in tears, and blood upon her face! KING. Does that surprise the devils who've misled me? ALVA and DOMINGO. We? KING. You have said enough to drive me mad. But nothing to convince me. ALVA. We gave you What we ourselves possessed. KING. May hell reward you! I've done what I repent of! Ah! was hers, The language of a conscience dark with guilt? MARQUIS POSA (from without). Say, can I see the king? SCENE XI. The former, MARQUIS POSA. KING (starts up at the sound of his voice, and advances some paces to meet him). Ah! here he comes. Right welcome, marquis! Duke! I need you now No longer. Leave us. [ALVA and DOMINGO look at each other with silent astonishment and retire. SCENE XII. The KING, and MARQUIS POSA. MARQUIS. That old soldier, sire, Who has faced death, in twenty battles, for you, Must hold it thankless to be so dismissed. KING. 'Tis thus for you to think--for me to act; In a few hours you have been more to me Than that man in a lifetime. Nor shall I Keep my content a secret. On your brow The lustre of my high and royal favor Shall shine resplendent--I will make that man A mark for envy whom I choose my friend. MARQUIS. What if the veil of dark obscurity Were his sole claim to merit such a title? KING. What come you now to tell me? MARQUIS. As I passed Along the antechamber a dread rumor Fell on my ear,--it seemed incredible,-- Of a most angry quarrel--blood--the queen---- KING. Come you from her? MARQUIS. I should be horrified Were not the rumor false: or should perhaps Your majesty meantime have done some act-- Discoveries of importance I have made, Which wholly change the aspect of affairs. KING. How now? MARQUIS. I found an opportunity To seize your son's portfolio, with his letters, Which, as I hope, may throw some light---- [He gives the PRINCE's portfolio to the KING. KING (looks through it eagerly). A letter From the emperor, my father. How! a letter Of which I ne'er remember to have heard. [He reads it through, puts it aside, and goes to the other papers. A drawing of some fortress--detached thoughts From Tacitus--and what is here? The hand I surely recognize--it is a lady's. [He reads it attentively, partly to himself, and partly aloud. "This key--the farthest chamber of the queen's Pavilion!" Ha! what's this? "The voice of love,-- The timid lover--may--a rich reward." Satanic treachery! I see it now. 'Tis she--'tis her own writing! MARQUIS. The queen's writing! Impossible! KING. The Princess Eboli's. MARQUIS. Then, it was true, what the queen's page confessed, Not long since--that he brought this key and letter.