Act II

A hall in the king's palace, with high windows at the hack.

Night. Cébès, sick, lying upon a bed. A little lamp is placed on the floor. Here and there men, stretched out asleep, snoring.

Pantomime—Enter, as if half-crazed, the king, barefoot, his clothes in disorder. He runs hither and thither about the hall in great agitation.

Cébès (not seeing the king): They are all asleep.

The lamp sputters and smokes.

(He painfully stretches himself on his back.

The King(groaning, in a low voice): Ah!

(Pause.

Cébès (lowering his voice): Two, four,