Octavio. Set down the light. We mean not to undress.
You may retire to sleep.

[Exit Valet. Octavio paces, musing, across the chamber; Max Piccolomini enters unobserved, and looks at his father for some moments in silence.

Max. Art thou offended with me? Heaven knows [5]
That odious business was no fault of mine.
'Tis true, indeed, I saw thy signature.
What thou hadst sanctioned, should not, it might seem,
Have come amiss to me. But—'tis my nature—
Thou know'st that in such matters I must follow [10]
My own light, not another's.

Octavio (embraces him). Follow it,
O follow it still further, my best son!
To-night, dear boy! it hath more faithfully
Guided thee than the example of thy father.

Max. Declare thyself less darkly.

Octavio. I will do so. 15
For after what has taken place this night,
There must remain no secrets 'twixt us two. [Both seat themselves.
Max Piccolomini! what thinkest thou of
The oath that was sent round for signatures?

Max. I hold it for a thing of harmless import, 20
Although I love not these set declarations.

Octavio. And on no other ground hast thou refused
[[673]] The signature they fain had wrested from thee?

Max. It was a serious business——I was absent—
The affair itself seemed not so urgent to me. 25

Octavio. Be open, Max. Thou hadst then no suspicion?