Scene II. A room in the castle. _Genoveva_ is reading to the aged,

almost blind _King Arkel_ a letter which _Golo_ has written to his half-brother _Pelléas_. From this letter we learn that _Golo_ has already been married six months to the mysterious _Mélisande_. He has great love for his wife, about whom, however, he knows no more today than he did at first in the woods. So he fears that his grandfather, the _King_, may not forgive him for this union and asks _Pelléas_ to give him a sign in case the _King_ is ready "to honour the stranger as his daughter." Otherwise he will steer the keel of his ship to the most remote land. _King Arkel_ has arrived at that time of life when the wisdom of experience tends to make one forgiving toward everything that happens. So he pardons _Golo_ and commissions his grandson _Pelléas_ to give his brother the sign agreed upon.