The King. Silence! With my hand on the head of this poor creature, who used to trust so unassumingly and devotedly to his goodness of heart, I wish to say something in memory of my friend. (ANNA clings to him, weeping. The others come respectfully nearer, and wait.) Gran was the richest man in the country. Why was it that he had no fear of the people? Why was it that he believed that its salvation lay in the overthrow of the present state of affairs? Bang. Mr. Gran, with all his great qualities, was a visionary. The King. He had not inherited all of his vast fortune; he had amassed a great part of it himself. Bang. As a man of business, Mr. Gran was beyond all praise. The King. And yet a visionary? The two things are absolutely contradictory.--You once called me "the padlock on your cash-box." Bang. I allowed myself, with all respect, to make that jest--which, nevertheless, was nothing but the serious truth! The King. Why did he, who has met his death, consider that the security for _his_ cash-box came from those _below_ him, as long as he did what was right, and not from those above him? Because he understood the times. No question of selfishness stood in the way of his doing that.--That is my funeral oration over him!--(To ANNA.) Get up, my dear! Did you understand what I was saying? Do not weep so! (She clings to him, sobbing.) The Priest. He was a very great man! When your Majesty speaks so, I fully recognise it. But your Majesty may be certain that, though we may not have been so fortunate as to see so far ahead and so clearly--though our mental horizon may be narrow--we are none the less loyal to your Majesty for that, nor less devoted! It is our duty as subjects to say so, although your Majesty in your heaviness of heart seems to forget it-seems to forget that we, too, look for everything from your Majesty's favour, wisdom and justice. (Perspires freely.) The King. It is very strange! My dear friend never said anything like that to me. (A pause.) He had the most prosperous business in the country. When I came to him and asked him to abandon it, he did so at once. And in the end he died for me. That is the sort of man he was. (To ANNA.) Go in to him, my dear! You are the very picture of dumb loyalty. Although I do not deserve to have such as you to watch by my side, still, for the sake of him who is dead, I shall have you to do so when I too--. (Breaks off.) Yes, yes, go in there now! I shall come. Do you understand? I shall come. (ANNA moves towards the other room.) There, that's it! (He repeats his words to her every time she looks back as she goes.) Yes, directly!--That's it!--In a very little while! Go now! Bang. Excuse me, your Majesty, but it is terribly hot in here, and the affection of my heart which troubles me is attacking me painfully. Will your Majesty be pleased to allow me to withdraw?