door after
you and give out that anyone that comes to this
side of the house at all in the next half-hour, his
neck will be on the block before morning!

_Dall Glic: (Hurriedly.)_ I'm going! I'm
going.

_(Goes.)_

_King: (Locking door and drawing window curtains.)_
That you may never come back till I ask you!
_(Lies down and settles himself on pillows.)_ I'll be
lying here in my lone listening to the pigeons
seeking their meal. "Coo-coo," they're saying,
"Coo-coo."

_(Closes eyes.)_

_Nurse: (At door.)_ Who is it locked the door?
_(Shakes it.)_ Who is it is in it? What is going on
within? Is it that some bad work is after being
done in this place? Hi! Hi! Hi!

_King: (Sitting up.)_ Get away out of that,
you torment of a nurse! Be off before I'll have
the life of you!

_Nurse_: The Lord be praised, it is the King's
own voice! There's time yet!

_King_: There's time, is there? There's time
for everyone to give out their chat and their gab,
and to do their business and take their ease and have
a comfortable life, only the King! The beasts
of the field have leave to lay themselves down in the
meadow and to stretch their limbs on the green
grass in the heat of the day, without being pestered
and plagued and tormented and called to and
wakened and worried, till a man is no less than
wore out!

_Nurse_: Up or down, I'll say what I have to
say, if it cost me my life. It is that I have to tell
you of a plot that is made and a plan!

_King_: I won't listen! I heard enough of
plots and plans within the last three minutes!

_Nurse_: You didn't hear this one. No one knows
of it only myself.

_King_: I was told it by the Dall Glic.

_Nurse_: You were not! I am only after making
it out on the moment!

_King_: A plot against the lad of the saucepans?

_Nurse_: That's it! That's it! Open now the door!

_King: (Putting a cushion over each ear and
settling himself to sleep.)_ Tell away and welcome!

_(Shuts eyes.)_

_Nurse_: That's right! You're listening. Give
heed