URTIER _brave in green
and gold, who enters with an air of great elegance, bearing daintily
a gilded jewel casket. He kneels, lays it in the_ PRIEST'S _hands.
The latter turns to go but the_ COURTIER _detains him a second,
raises the lid of the box and holds up string after string of rich
gems. The_ PRIEST _carries the jewels to the altar and offers them.
The bells do not ring. The_ PRIEST _dismisses the_ COURTIER, _and
the young man rises, turns back with assumed lightness of manner and
stands at the left of the chancel, watching with great interest._)

(_A beautiful_ WOMAN _clad in flame colored velvet sweeps proudly up
to the steps of the altar, kneels, takes from her neck a long strand
of pearls and offers it to the_ PRIEST. _The_ PRIEST _receives the
necklace, ascends to the altar and offers the jewels. The woman
smiling listens tensely for the chimes. They do not ring. The smile
fades as the_ PRIEST _turns and blesses her. She rises trying to
hide her chagrin in a look of great hauteur, crosses to the right
and stands near the man in black and gold with whom she exchanges
disdainful smiles over the next arrival._)

(_An old white haired man clad in a scholar's robes totters on,
bearing with difficulty a large vellum bound book. The_ PRIEST
_takes a step forward to relieve the Old Man of his burden, and as
he goes up the altar steps the Sage sinks exhausted to his knees,
listening with straining senses for the bells.--They do not ring.
The_ PRIEST _blesses the old man and helps him to rise. He turns
back and stands near the_ COURTIER _at the left._)

(_A lovely young girl enters, dressed in pale green satin, her arms
filled with a sheaf of white lilies. The very way she carries them
and bends her head to catch their fragrance shows that to her they
are the most beautiful things in the world. Kneeling she gives them
into the hands of the_ PRIEST, _and as he offers them, she listens
with childish confidence for the ringing of the bells.--Still there
is no sound save the organ music and the singing of the choir,
subdued almost to a breath as the gifts are offered. Abashed as the_
PRIEST _blesses and dismisses her, the young girl steps back and
stands near the old Sage._)

(_There is a stir in the chancel, even the_ PRIEST _turning to
watch. The_ KING _enters. He is a man of