[PITT'S bedchamber, from the landing without. It is afternoon. At the back of the room as seen through the doorway is a curtained bed, beside which a woman sits, the LADY HESTER STANHOPE. Bending over a table at the front of the room is SIR WALTER FARQUHAR, the physician. PARSLOW the footman and another servant are near the door. TOMLINE, the Bishop of Lincoln, enters.] FARQUHAR [in a subdued voice] I grieve to call your lordship up again, But symptoms lately have disclosed themselves That mean the knell to the frail life in him. And whatsoever thing of gravity It may be needful to communicate, Let them be spoken now. Time may not serve If they be much delayed. TOMLINE Ah, stands it this?... The name of his disease is--Austerlitz! His brow's inscription has been Austerlitz From that dire morning in the month just past When tongues of rumour twanged the word across From its hid nook on the Moravian plains. FARQUHAR And yet he might have borne it, had the weight Of governmental shackles been unclasped, Even partly, from his limbs last Lammastide, When that despairing journey to the King At Gloucester Lodge by Wessex shore was made To beg such. But relief the King refused. “Why want you Fox? What--Grenville and his friends?” He harped. “You are sufficient without these-- Rather than Fox, why, give me civil war!” And fibre that would rather snap than shrink Held out no longer. Now the upshot nears. [LADY HESTER STANHOPE turns her head and comes forward.] LADY HESTER I am grateful you are here again, good friend! He's sleeping some light seconds; but once more Has asked for tidings of Lord Harrowby, And murmured of his mission to Berlin As Europe's haggard hope; if, sure, it be That any hope remain! TOMLINE There's no news yet.-- These several days while I have been sitting by him He has inquired the quarter of the wind, And where that moment beaked the stable-cock. When I said “East,” he answered “That is well! Those are the breezes that will speed him home!” So cling his heart-strings to his country's cause. FARQUHAR I fear that Wellesley's visit here by now Strung him to tensest strain. He quite broke down, And has fast faded since. LADY HESTER Ah! now he wakes. Please come and speak to him as you would wish [to TOMLINE]. [LADY HESTER, TOMLINE,and FARQUHAR retire behind the bed, where in a short time voices are heard in prayer. Afterwards the Bishop goes to a writing-table, and LADY HESTER comes to the doorway. Steps are heard on the stairs, and PITT'S friend ROSE, the President of the Board of Trade, appears on the landing and makes inquiries.] LADY HESTER [whispering]