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? SECOND QUESTIONER: In the Chamber of Rats. KING: Begone! [_Exeunt_ QUESTIONERS. So ... It _was_ the gods. [_The acolytes are crouched upon the floor. He does not notice them since they ceased to moan._ The gods! With what dark and dreadful thing have they clouded the future? Well, I will face it! But what is it? Is it one of those things a strong man can bear? Or is it----? The future is more terrible than the grave, that has its one secret only. No man, he said, could say that the gods had advised me ill when they bade me drink out of a poisoned cup.