The King. First of all her death? That meant the death of my betrothed, didn't it?
Bang and The Priest. Yes, your Majesty.
The King. "And then this" meant my friend—my dear friend! (With emotion.) Why did heaven condemn these two to death? (A pause.)
The General. It is most regrettable that we should, quite involuntarily, have disturbed your Majesty at a moment when your Majesty's feelings are, naturally, so overcome—
The King (interrupting him). I asked you why heaven condemned these two to death. (To the VICAR.) You are a clergyman; cudgel your brains!
The Priest. Well, your Majesty, I was thinking that—I meant that—that heaven had in a miraculous way checked your Majesty—
The General. "Ventured to check" would be more suitable, I think.
The Priest.—from continuing in a course which many people thought so unfortunate—I mean, so fatal to the nation, and the church; had checked your Majesty—
The General (in an undertone). Ventured to check.
The Priest.—by taking away from your Majesty the two persons who—the two persons who—in the first place the one who—