Enter King Victor, bearing the regalia on a cushion, from his apartment. He calls loudly

D'Ormea!—for patience fails me, treading thus

Among the obscure trains I have laid,—my knights

Safe in the hall here—in that anteroom,

My son,—D'Ormea, where? Of this, one touch— [Laying down the crown.

This fireball to these mute black cold trains—then

Outbreak enough!

[Contemplating it.] To lose all, after all!

This, glancing o'er my house for ages—shaped,

Brave meteor, like the crown of Cyprus now,