prison. And to prevail upon the
provost to agree to this, the duke, whom still the provost suspected not
to be anything more or greater than he seemed, showed the provost a
letter written with the duke's hand, and sealed with his seal, which
when the provost saw, he concluded this friar must have some secret
order from the absent duke, and therefore he consented to spare Claudio;
and he cut off the dead man's head, and carried it to Angelo.

Then the duke in his own name, wrote to Angelo a letter, saying, that
certain accidents had put a stop to his journey, and that he should be
in Vienna by the following morning, requiring Angelo to meet him at the
entrance of the city, there to deliver up his authority; and the duke
also commanded it to be proclaimed, that if any of his subjects craved
redress for injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street
on his first entrance into the city.

Early in the morning Isabel came to the prison, and the duke, who there
awaited her coming, for secret reasons thought it good to tell her that
Claudio was beheaded; therefore when Isabel inquired if Angelo had sent
the pardon for her brother, he said, "Angelo has released Claudio from
this world. His head is off, and sent to the deputy." The much-grieved
sister cried out, "O unhappy Claudio, wretched Isabel, injurious world,
most wicked Angelo!" The seeming friar bid her take comfort, and when
she was become a little calm, he acquainted her with the near prospect
of the duke's return, and told her in what manner she should proceed in
preferring her complaint against Angelo; and he bade her not fear if the
cause should seem to go against her for a while. Leaving Isabel
sufficiently instructed, he next went to Mariana, and gave her counsel
in what manner she also should act.

Then the duke laid aside his friar's habit, and in his own royal robes,
amidst a joyful crowd of his faithful subjects, assembled to greet his
arrival, entered the city of Vienna, where he was met by Angelo, who
delivered up his authority in the proper form. And there came Isabel, in
the manner of a petitioner for redress, and said, "Justice, most royal
duke! I am the sister of one Claudio, who, for the seducing a young
maid, was condemned to lose his head. I made my suit to Lord Angelo for
my brother's pardon. It were needless to tell your grace how I prayed
and kneeled, how he repelled me, and how I replied; for this was of much
length. The vile concl