If
by
Lord Dunsany
Part 3 out of 4
Lord of the Pass and beat the outer door.
Say that the great lady herself would see him.
The great lady, Miss Clement, the white
traveller's heiress.
DAOUD
Yes, master.
JOHN BEAL
Hasten.
[Exit DAOUD.]
I have sent him for Hussein.
MIRALDA
I don't know their language.
JOHN BEAL
You will see him, and I'll tell you what he
says.
MIRALDA [to ARCHIE]
Have you been here long?
ARCHIE BEAL
No. I think he wrote to me by the same
mail as he wrote to you (if they have mails
here). I came at once.
MIRALDA
So did I; but you weren't on the Empress
of Switzerland.
ARCHIE BEAL
No, I came round more by land.
JOHN BEAL
You know, I hardly like bringing Hussein
in here to see you. He's such a--he's rather
a . . .
MIRALDA
What's the matter with him?
JOHN BEAL
Well, he's rather of the brigand type, and
one doesn't know what he'll do.
MIRALDA
Well, we must see him first and hear what
he has to say before we take any steps.
JOHN BEAL
But what do you propose to do?
MIRALDA
Why, if he pays me everything he owes, or
gives up the security . . .
JOHN BEAL
The security is the pass.
MIRALDA
Yes. If he gives up that or pays . . .
JOHN BEAL
You know he's practically king of the
whole country. It seems rather cheek almost
my sending for him like this.
MIRALDA
He must come.
JOHN BEAL
But what are you going to do?
MIRALDA
If he gives up the pass . . .
JOHN BEAL
Why, if he gives up the pass you'd be
you'd be a kind of queen of it all.
MIRALDA
Well, if he does that, all right. . .
JOHN BEAL
But what if he doesn't?
MIRALDA
Why, if he doesn't pay . . .
HUSSEIN [off]
I am here.
JOHN BEAL
Be seen.
[Enter HUSSEIN.]
HUSSEIN
Greeting once more.
JOHN BEAL
Again greeting.... The great lady,
Miss Clement, is here.
[HUSSEIN and MIRALDA look at each
other.]
You will pay to Miss Clement and not to
your god of bronze. On the word of an
Englishman, your god of bronze shall not have
one gold piece that belongs to the great lady!
HUSSEIN [looking contemptuous]
On the word of the Lord of the Pass, I only
pay to Hinnard.
[He stands smiling while MIRALDA
regards him. Exit.]
ARCHIE BEAL
Well?
JOHN BEAL
He won't pay.
ARCHIE BEAL
What are we to do now?
JOHN BEAL [to MIRALDA]
I'm afraid he's rather an ugly customer to
introduce you to like that. I'm sorry he came
now.
MIRALDA
O, I like him, I think he looks splendid.
ARCHIE BEAL
Well, what are we to do?
JOHN BEAL
Yes.
ARCHIE BEAL
What do you say, Miss Clement?
JOHN BEAL
Yes, what do you feel we ought to do?
MIRALDA
Well, perhaps I ought to leave all that to
you.
ARCHIE BEAL
O, no.
JOHN BEAL
No, it's your money. What do you think
we really ought to do?
MIRALDA
Well, of course, I think you ought to kill
Hussein.
[JOHN BEAL and ARCHIE BEAL look
at each other a little startled.]
JOHN BEAL
But wouldn't that--wouldn't that
be--murder?
MIRALDA
O, yes, according to the English law.
JOHN BEAL
I see; you mean--you mean we're not--but
we are English.
MIRALDA
I mean it wouldn't be murder--by your
law, unless you made it so.
JOHN BEAL
By my law?
MIRALDA
Yes, if you can interfere with their religion
like this, and none of them say a word,
why--you can make any laws you like.
JOHN BEAL
But Hussein is king here; he is Lord of the
Pass, and that's everything here. I'm nobody.
MIRALDA
O, if you like to be nobody, of course that's
different.
ARCHIE BEAL
I think she means that if Hussein weren't
there there'd be only you. Of course, I don't
know. I've only just come.
JOHN BEAL
But we can't kill Hussein!
[MIRALDA begins to cry.]
O Lord! Good heavens! Please, Miss
Clement! I'm awfully sorry if I've said
anything you didn't like. I wouldn't do that for
worlds. I'm awfully sorry. It's a beastly
country, I know. I'm really sorry you came.
I feel it's all my fault. I'm really awfully
sorry. . .
MIRALDA
Never mind. Never mind. I was so
helpless, and I asked you to help me. I never
ought to have done it. I oughtn't to have
spoken to you at all in that train without
being introduced; but I was so helpless. And
now, and now, I haven't a penny in the world,
and, O, I don't know what to do.
ARCHIE BEAL
We'll do anything for you, Miss Clement.
JOHN BEAL
Anything in the wide world. Please, please
don't cry. We'll do anything.
MIRALDA
I . . . I only, I only wanted to--to kill
Hussein. But never mind, it doesn't matter
now.
JOHN BEAL
We'll do it, Miss Clement, won't we,
Archie? Only don't cry. We'll do it. I--I
suppose he deserves it, doesn't he?
ARCHIE BEAL
Yes, I suppose he does.
JOHN BEAL
Well, all right, Miss Clement, that's settled.
My brother and I will talk it over.
MIRALDA [still sniping]
And--and--don't hang him or anything--he
looks so fine.... I--I wouldn't like
him treated like that. He has such a grand
beard. He ought to die fighting.
JOHN BEAL
We'll see what we can do, Miss Clement.
MIRALDA
It is sweet of you. It's really sweet. It's
sweet of both of you. I don't know what I d
have done without you. I seemed to know
it that day the moment I saw you.
JOHN BEAL
O, it's nothing, Miss Clement, nothing at
all.
ARCHIE BEAL
That's all right.
MIRALDA
Well, now I'll have to look for an hotel.
JOHN BEAL
Yes, that's the trouble, that really is the
trouble. That's what I've been thinking of
MIRALDA
Why, isn't there . . .
JOHN BEAL
No, I'm afraid there isn't. What are we to
do, Archie.
ARCHIE BEAL
I--I can't think. Perhaps Miss Clement
would have a scheme.
MIRALDA [to JOHN BEAL]
I rely on you, Mr. Beal.
JOHN BEAL
I--I; but what can I . . . You see,
you're all alone. If you'd anyone with you,
you could have . . .
MIRALDA
I did think of bringing a rather nice aunt.
But on the whole I thought it better not to
tell anyone.
JOHN BEAL
Not to tell . . .
MIRALDA
No, on the whole I didn't.
JOHN BEAL
I say, Archie, what are we to do?
ARCHIE BEAL
Here's Daoud.
[Enter DAOUD.]
JOHN BEAL
The one man I trust in Al Shaldomir!
DAOUD
I have brought two watchers of the
doorstep to guard the noble lady.
JOHN BEAL
He says he's brought two watchers of the
doorstep to look after Miss Clement.
ARCHIE BEAL
Two chaperons! Splendid! She can go
anywhere now.
JOHN BEAL
Well, really, that is better. Yes that will
be all right. We can find a room for you now.
The trouble was your being alone. I hope
you'll like them. [To DAOUD.] Tell them
to enter here.
DAOUD [beckoning in the doorway]
Ho! Enter!
JOHN BEAL
That's all right, ARCHIE, isn't it?
ARCHIE BEAL
Yes, that's all right. A chaperon's a
chaperon, black or white.
JOHN BEAL
You won't mind their being black, will you,
Miss Clement?
MIRALDA
No, I shan't mind. They can't be worse
than white ones.
[Enter BAZZALOL and THOOTHOOBABA
two enormous Nubians, bearing peacock
fans and wearing scimitars. All stare at
them. They begin to fan slightly.]
DAOUD
The watchers of the doorstep.
JOHN BEAL
Idiot, Daoud! Fools! Dolts! Men may
not guard a lady's door.
[BAZZALOL and THOOTHOOBABA smile
ingratiatingly.]
We are not men.
BAZZALOL [bowing]
Curtain
Six and a half years elapse
THE SONG OF THE IRIS MARSHES
When morn is bright on the mountains olden
Till dawn is lost in the blaze of day,
When morn is bright and the marshes golden,
Where shall the lost lights fade away?
And where, my love, shall we dream to-day?
Dawn is fled to the marshy hollows
Where ghosts of stars in the dimness stray,
And the water is streaked with the flash of
swallows
And all through summer the iris sway.
But where, my love, shall we dream to-day?
When night is black in the iris marshes.
ACT III
SCENE 1
Six and a half years later.
Al Shaldomir.
A room in the palace.
MIRALDA reclines on a heap of cushions,
JOHN beside her.
Bazzalol and Thoothoobaba fan them.
OMAR [declaiming to a zither]
Al Shaldomir, Al Shaldomir,
The nightingales that guard thy ways
Cease not to give thee, after God
And after Paradise, all praise.
Thou art the theme of all their lays.
Al Shaldomir, Al Shaldomir. . . .
MIRALDA
Go now, Omar.
OMAR
O lady, I depart.
[Exit.]
MIRALDA [languidly]
John, John. I wish you'd marry me.
JOHN
Miralda, you're thinking of those old
customs again that we left behind us seven years
ago. What's the good of it?
MIRALDA
I had a fancy that I wished you would.
JOHN
What's the good of it? You know you are
my beloved. There are none of those
clergymen within hundreds of miles. What's the
good of it?
MIRALDA
We could find one, John.
JOHN
O, yes, I suppose we could, but . . .
MIRALDA
Why won't you?
JOHN
I told you why.
MIRALDA
O, yes, that instinct that you must not
marry. That's not your reason, John.
JOHN
Yes, it is.
MIRALDA
It's a silly reason. It's a crazy reason.
It's no reason at all. There's some other
reason.
JOHN
No, there isn't. But I feel that in my
bones. I don't know why. You know that
I love none else but you. Besides, we're
never going back, and it doesn't matter.
This isn't Blackheath.
MIRALDA
So I must live as your slave.
JOHN
No, no, Miralda. My dear, you are not my
slave. Did not the singer compare our love
to the desire of the nightingale for the
evening star? All know that you are my queen.
MIRALDA
They do not know at home.
JOHN
Home? Home? How could they know?
What have we in common with home? Rows
and rows of little houses; and if they hear a
nightingale there they write to the papers.
And--and if they saw this they'd think they
were drunk. Miralda, don't be absurd.
What has set you thinking of home?
MIRALDA
I want to be crowned queen.
JOHN
But I am not a king. I am only Shereef.
MIRALDA
You are all-powerful here, John, you can do
what you please, if you wish to. You don't
love me at all.
JOHN
Miralda, you know I love you. Didn't
I kill Hussein for you?
MIRALDA
Yes, but you don't love me now.
JOHN
And Hussein's people killed ARCHIE. That
was for you too. I brought my brother out
here to help you. He was engaged to be
married, too.
MIRALDA
But you don't love me now.
JOHN
Yes, I do. I love you as the dawn loves
the iris marshes. You know the song they
sing. (footnote: poem just before Act III)
MIRALDA
Then why won't you marry me?
JOHN
I told you, I told you. I had a dream about
the future. I forgot the dream, but I know
I was not to marry. I will not wrong the
future.
MIRALDA
Don't be crazy.
JOHN
I will have what fancies I please, crazy or
sane. Am I not Shereef of Shaldomir? Who
dare stop me if I would be mad as Herod?
MIRALDA
I will be crowned queen.
JOHN
It is not my wish.
MIRALDA
I will, I will, I will.
JOHN
Drive me not to anger. If I have you cast
into a well and take twenty of the fairest
daughters of Al Shaldomir in your place, who
can gainsay me?
MIRALDA
I will be crowned queen.
JOHN
O, do not be tiresome.
MIRALDA
Was it not my money that brought you
here? Was it not I who said " Kill Hussein"?
What power could you have had, had
Hussein lived? What would you have been doing
now, but for me?
JOHN
I don't know, Miralda.
MIRALDA
Catching some silly train to the City.
Working for some dull firm. Living in some
small suburban house. It is I, I, that brought
you from all that, and you won't make me a
queen.
JOHN
Is it not enough that you are my beloved?
You know there is none other but you. Is
it not enough, Miralda?
MIRALDA
It is not enough. I will be queen.
JOHN
Tchah! . . . Miralda, I know you are a
wonderful woman, the most wonderful in the
East; how you ever came to be in the West
I don't know, and a train of all places; but,
Miralda, you must not have petty whims,
they don't become you.
MIRALDA
Is it a petty whim to wish to be a queen?
JOHN
Yes, when it is only the name you want.
You are a queen. You have all you wish for.
Are you not my beloved? And have I not
power here over all men? Could I not close
the pass?
MIRALDA
I want to be queen.
JOHN
Oh-h! I will leave you. I have more to do
than to sit and hear your whims. When I
come back you will have some other whim.
Miralda, you have too many whims.
[He rises.]
MIRALDA
Will you be back soon?
JOHN
No.
MIRALDA
When will you come back, John?
[She is reclining, looking fair, fanning
slightly.]
JOHN
In half an hour.
MIRALDA
In half an hour?
JOHN
Yes.
[Exit.]
MIRALDA
Half an hour.
[Her fan is laid down. She clutches
it with sudden resolve. She goes to the
wall, fanning herself slowly. She leans
against it. She fans herself now with
obvious deliberation. Three times the
great fan goes pat against the window, and
then again separately three times; and
then she puts it against the window once
with a smile of ecstasy. She has signalled.
She returns to the cushions and reclines
with beautiful care, fanning herself softly.
Enter the Vizier, HAFIZ EL ALCOLAHN]
HAFIZ
Lady! You bade me come.
MIRALDA
Did I, Hafiz?
HAFIZ
Lady, your fan.
MIRALDA
Ah, I was fanning myself.
HAFIZ
Seven times, lady.
MIRALDA
Ah, was it? Well, now you're here.
HAFIZ
Lady, O star of these times. O light over
lonely marshes. [He kneels by her and
embraces her.] Is the Shereef gone, lady?
MIRALDA
For half an hour, Hafiz.
HAFIZ
How know you for half an hour?
MIRALDA
He said so.
HAFIZ
He said so? Then is the time to fear, if a
man say so.
MIRALDA
I know him.
HAFIZ
In our country who knows any man so
much? None.
MIRALDA
He'll be away for half an hour.
HAFIZ [embracing]
O, exquisite lily of unattainable mountains.
MIRALDA
Ah, Hafiz, would you do a little thing for
me?
HAFIZ
I would do all things, lady, O evening
star.
MIRANDA
Would you make me a queen, Hafiz?
HAFIZ
If--if the Shereef were gathered?
MIRALDA
Even so, Hafiz.
HAFIZ
Lady, I would make you queen of all that
lies west of the passes.
MIRANDA
You would make me queen?
HAFIZ
Indeed, before all my wives, before all
women, over all Shaldomir, named the elect.
MIRALDA
O, well, Hafiz; then you may kiss me.
[HAFIZ does so ad lib.]
Hafiz, the Shereef has irked me.
HAFIZ
Lady, O singing star, to all men is the hour.
MIRALDA
The appointed hour?
HAFIZ
Even the appointed hour, the last, leading
to darkness.
MIRALDA
Is it written, think you, that the Shereef's
hour is soon?
HAFIZ
Lady, O dawn's delight, let there be a
banquet. Let the great ones of Shaldomir be
bidden there.
MIRALDA
There shall be a banquet, Hafiz.
HAFIZ
Soon, O lady. Let it be soon, sole lily of
the garden.
MIRALDA
It shall be soon, Hafiz.
[More embraces.]
HAFIZ
And above all, O lady, bid Daoud, the son
of the baker.
MIRALDA
He shall be bidden, Hafiz.
HAFIZ
O lady, it is well.
MIRALDA
Go now, Hafiz.
HAFIZ
Lady, I go [giving a bag of gold to BAZZALOL].
Silence. Silence. Silence.
BAZZALOL [kneeling]
O, master!
HAFIZ
Let the tomb speak; let the stars cry out;
but do you be silent.
BAZZALOL
Aye, master.
HAFIZ [to THOOTHOOBABA]
And you. Though this one speak, yet be
silent, or dread the shadow of Hafiz el
Alcolahn.
[He drops a bag of gold.
THOOTHOOBABA goes down and grabs at the gold;
his eyes gloat over it.]
THOOTHOOBABA
Master, I speak not. Oh-h-h.
[Exit HAFIZ.
MIRALDA arranges herself on the
cushions. She looks idly at each Nubian. The
Nubians put each a finger over his lips and
go on fanning with one hand.]
MIRALDA
A queen. I shall look sweet as a queen.
[Enter JOHN. She rises to greet him
caressingly.
Enter DAOUD.]
Oh, you have brought Daoud with you.
JOHN
Why not?
MIRALDA
You know that I don't like Daoud.
JOHN
I wish to speak with him.
[MIRALDA looks straight at JOHN and
moves away in silence. Exit L.]
JOHN
Daoud.
DAOUD
Great master.
JOHN
Daoud, one day in spring, in the cemetery
of those called Blessed, beyond the city's
gates, you swore to me by the graves of both
your parents . . . .
DAOUD
Great master, even so I swore.
JOHN
. . . . to be true to me always.
DAOUD
There is no Shereef but my master.
JOHN
Daoud, you have kept your word.
DAOUD
I have sought to, master.
JOHN
You have helped me often, Daoud, warned
me and helped me often. Through you I
knew those currents that run through the
deeps of the market, in silence and all men
feel them, but a ruler never. You told me of
them, and when I knew--then I could look
after myself, Daoud. They could do nothing
against me then. Well, now I hold this
people. I hold them at last, Daoud, and now
--well, I can rest a little.
DAOUD
Not in the East, master.
JOHN
Not in the East, Daoud?
DAOUD
No, master.
JOHN
Why? What do you mean?
DAOUD
In Western countries, master, whose tales
I have read, in a wonderful book named the
"Good Child's History of England," in the
West a man hath power over a land, and lo!
the power is his and descends to his son's son
after him.
JOHN
Well, doesn't it in the East?
DAOUD
Not if he does not watch, master; in the
night and the day, and in the twilight
between the day and the night, and in the dawn
between the night and the day.
JOHN
I thought you had pretty long dynasties
in these parts, and pretty lazy ones.
DAOUD
Master, he that was mightiest of those that
were kings in Babylon had a secret door
prepared in an inner chamber, which led to a
little room, the smallest in the palace, whose
back door opened secretly to the river, even
to great Euphrates, where a small boat waited
all the days of his reign.
JOHN
Did he really now? Well, he was taking no
chances. Did he have to use it?
DAOUD
No, master. Such boats are never used.
Those that watch like that do not need to
seek them, and the others, they would never
be able to reach the river in time, even though
the boat were there.
JOHN
I shouldn't like to have to live like that.
Why, a river runs by the back of this palace.
I suppose palaces usually are on rivers. I'm
glad I don't have to keep a boat there.
DAOUD
No, master.
JOHN
Well, what is it you are worrying about?
Who is it you are afraid of?
DAOUD
Hafiz el Alcolahn.
JOHN
O, Hafiz. I have no fears of Hafiz. Lately
I ordered my spies to watch him no longer.
Why does he hate me?
DAOUD
Because, most excellent master, you slew
Hussein.
JOHN
Slew Hussein? What is that to do with
him? May I not slay whom I please?
DAOUD
Even so, master. Even so. But he was
Hussein's enemy.
JOHN
His enemy, eh?
DAOUD
For years he had dreamed of the joy of
killing Hussein.
JOHN
Well, he should have done it before I came.
We don't hang over things and brood over
them for years where I come from. If a
thing's to be done, it's done.
DAOUD
Even so, master. Hafiz had laid his plans
for years. He would have killed him and got
his substance; and then, when the hour drew
near, you came, and Hussein died, swiftly,
not as Hafiz would have had him die; and
lo! thou art the lord of the pass, and Hafiz is
no more than a beetle that runs about in the
dirt.
JOHN
Well, so you fear Hafiz?
DAOUD
Not for himself, master. Nay, I fear not
Hafiz. But, master, hast thou seen when the
thunder is coming, but no rumble is heard
and the sky is scarce yet black, how little
winds run in the grass and sigh and die; and
the flower beckons a moment with its head;
all the world full of whispers, master, all
saying nothing; then the lightning, master, and
the anger of God; and men say it came
without warning? [Simply.] I hear those things
coming, master.
JOHN
Well?
DAOUD
Master, it is all silent in the market. Once,
when the price of turquoises was high, men
abused the Shereef. When the merchant men
could not sell their pomegranates for silver
they abused the Shereef. It is men's way,
master, men's way. Now it is all silent in the
market. It is like the grasses with the idle
winds, that whisper and sigh and die away;
like the flowers beckoning to nothing. And
so, master, and so . . . .
JOHN
I see, you fear some danger.
DAOUD
I fear it, master.
JOHN
What danger, Daoud?
DAOUD
Master, I know not.
JOHN
From what quarter, Daoud?
DAOUD
O master, O sole Lord of Al Shaldomir,
named the elect, from that quarter.
JOHN
That quarter? Why, that is the gracious
lady's innermost chamber.
DAOUD
From that quarter, great master, O Lord
of the Pass.
JOHN
Daoud, I have cast men into prison for
saying less than this. Men have been flogged
on the feet for less than this.
DAOUD
Slay me, master, but hear my words.
JOHN
I will not slay you. You are mistaken,
Daoud. You have made a great mistake.
The thing is absurd. Why, the gracious lady
has scarcely seen Hafiz. She knows nothing
of the talk of the market. Who could tell
her? No one comes here. It is absurd. Only
the other day she said to me . . . But it
is absurd, it is absurd, Daoud. Besides, the
people would never rebel against me. Do I
not govern them well?
DAOUD
Even so, master.
JOHN
Why should they rebel, then?
DAOUD
They think of the old times, master.
JOHN
The old times? Why, their lives weren't
safe. The robbers came down from the
mountains and robbed the market whenever they
had a mind.
DAOUD
Master, men were content in the old times.
JOHN
But were the merchants content?
DAOUD
Those that loved merchandise were
content, master. Those that loved it not went
into the mountains.
JOHN
But were they content when they were
robbed?
DAOUD
They soon recovered their losses, master.
Their prices were unjust and they loved usury.
JOHN
And were the people content with unjust
prices?
DAOUD
Some were, master, as men have to be in
all countries. The others went into the
mountains and robbed the merchants.
JOHN
I see.
DAOUD
But now, master, a man robs a merchant
and he is cast into prison. Now a man is
slain in the market and his son, his own son,
master, may not follow after the aggressor
and slay him and burn his house. They are
ill-content, master. No man robs the
merchants, no man slays them, and the
merchants' hearts are hardened and they oppress
all men.
JOHN
I see. They don't like good government?
DAOUD
They sigh for the old times, master.
JOHN
I see; I see. In spite of all I have done for
them, they want their old bad government
back again.
DAOUD
It is the old way, master.
JOHN
Yes, yes. And so they would rebel. Well,
we must watch. You have warned me once
again, Daoud, and I am grateful. But you
are wrong, Daoud, about the gracious lady.
You are mistaken. It is impossible. You are
mistaken, Daoud. I know it could not be.
DAOUD
I am mistaken, master. Indeed, I am
mistaken. Yet, watch. Watch, master.
JOHN
Well, I will watch.
DAOUD
And, master, if ever I come to you bearing
oars, then watch no longer, master, but follow
me through the banquet chamber and through
the room beyond it. Move as the wild deer
move when there is danger, without pausing,
without wondering, without turning round;
for in that hour, master, in that hour . . . .
JOHN
Through the room beyond the banquet
chamber, Daoud?
DAOUD
Aye, master, following me.
JOHN
But there is no door beyond, Daoud.
DAOUD
Master, I have prepared a door.
JOHN
A door, Daoud?
DAOUD
A door none wots of, master.
JOHN
Whither does it lead?
DAOUD
To a room that you know not of, a little
room; you must stoop, master.
JOHN
O, and then?
DAOUD
To the river, master.
JOHN
The river! But there's no boat there.
DAOUD
Under the golden willow, master.
JOHN
A boat?
DAOUD
Even so, under the branches.
JOHN
Is it come to that? . . . No, Daoud, all
this is unnecessary. It can't come to that.
DAOUD
If ever I come before you bearing two oars,
in that hour, master, it is necessary.
JOHN
But you will not come. It will never come
to that.
DAOUD
No, master.
JOHN
A wise man can stop things before they
get as far as that.
DAOUD
They that were kings in Babylon were wise
men, master.
JOHN
Babylon! But that was thousands of
years ago.
DAOUD
Man changes not, master.
JOHN
Well, Daoud, I will trust you, and if it
ever comes to that . . .
[Enter MIRALDA.]
MIRALDA
I thought Daoud was gone.
DAOUD
Even now I go, gracious lady.
[Exit DAOUD. Rather strained silence
with JOHN and MIRALDA till he goes.
She goes and retakes herself comfortable
on the cushions. He is not entirely at ease.]
MIRALDA
You had a long talk with Daoud.
JOHN
Yes, he came and talked a good deal.
MIRALDA
What about?
JOHN
O, just talk; you know these Eastern
people.
MIRALDA
I thought it was something you were
discussing with him.
JOHN
O, no.
MIRALDA
Some important secret.
JOHN
No, not at all.
MIRALDA
You often talk with Daoud.
JOHN
Yes, he is useful to me. When he talks
sense I listen, but to-day . . .
MIRALDA
What did he come for to-day?
JOHN
O, nothing.
MIRALDA
You have a secret with Daoud that you
will not share with me.
JOHN
No, I have not.
MIRALDA
What was it he said?
JOHN
He said there was a king in Babylon who . . .
[DAOUD slips into the room.]
MIRALDA
In Babylon? What has that to do with
us?
JOHN
Nothing. I told you he was not talking
sense.
MIRALDA
Well, what did he say?
JOHN
He said that in Babylon . . .
DAOUD
Hist!
JOHN
O, well . . .
[MIRALDA glares, but calms herself
and says nothing.
Exit DAOUD.]
MIRALDA
What did Daoud say of Babylon?
JOHN
O, well, as you say, it had nothing to do
with us.
MIRALDA
But I wish to hear it.
JOHN
I forget.
[For a moment there is silence.]
MIRALDA
John, John. Will you do a little thing for
me?
JOHN
What is it?
MIRALDA
Say you will do it, John. I should love to
have one of my little wishes granted.
JOHN
What is it?
MIRALDA
Kill Daoud, John. I want you to kill
Daoud.
JOHN
I will not.
[He walks up and down in front of the
two Nubians in silence. She plucks
petulantly at a pillow. She suddenly calms
herself. A light comes into her eyes. The
Nubians go on fanning. JOHN goes on
pacing.]
MIRALDA
John, John, I have forgotten my foolish
fancies.
JOHN
I am glad of it.
MIRALDA
I do not really wish you to kill Daoud.
JOHN [same voice]
I'm glad you don't.
MIRALDA
I have only one fancy now, John.
JOHN
Well, what is it?
MIRALDA
Give a banquet, John. I want you to give
a banquet.
JOHN
A banquet? Why?
MIRALDA
Is there any harm in my fancy?
JOHN
No.
MIRALDA
Then if I may not be a queen, and if you
will not kill Daoud for me, give a banquet,
John. There is no harm in a banquet.
JOHN
Very well. When do you want it?
MIRALDA
To-morrow, John. Bid all the great ones
to it, all the illustrious ones in Al Shaldomir.
JOHN
Very well.
MIRALDA
And bid Daoud come.
JOHN
Daoud? You asked me to kill him.
MIRALDA
I do not wish that any longer, John.
JOHN
You have queer moods, Miralda.
MIRALDA
May I not change my moods, John?
JOHN
I don't know. I don't understand them.
MIRALDA
And ask Hafiz el Alcolahn, John.
JOHN
Hafiz? Why?
MIRALDA
I don't know, John. It was just my fancy.
JOHN
Your fancy, eh?
MIRALDA
That was all.
JOHN
Then I will ask him. Have you any other
fancy?
MIRALDA
Not now, John.
JOHN
Then go, Miralda.
MIRALDA
Go?
JOHN
Yes.
MIRALDA
Why?
JOHN
Because I command it.
MIRALDA
Because you command it?
JOHN
Yes, I, the Shereef Al Shaldomir.
MIRALDA
Very well.
[Exit L.
He walks to the door to see that she is
really gone. He comes back to centre and
stands with back to audience, pulling a
cord quietly from his pocket and arranging
it.
He moves half left and comes up behind
BAZZALOL. Suddenly he slips the cord
over BAZZALOL's head, and tightens it
round his neck.]
[BAZZALOL flops on his knees.
THOOTHOOBABA goes on fanning.]
JOHN
Speak!
[BAZZALOL is silent.
JOHN tightens it more. THOOTHOOBABA
goes on quietly fanning.]
BAZZALOL
I cannot.
JOHN
If you would speak, raise your left hand.
If you raise your left hand and do not speak
you shall die.
[BAZZALOL is silent. JOHN tightens
more. BAZZALOL raises his great flabby
left hand high. JOHN releases the cord.
BAZZALOL blinks and moves his mouth.]
BAZZALOL
Gracious Shereef, one visited the great
lady and gave us gold, saying, "Speak not."
JOHN
When?
BAZZALOL
Great master, one hour since.
JOHN [a little viciously]
Who?
BAZZALOL
O heaven-sent, he was Hafiz el Alcolahn.
JOHN
Give me the gold.
[BAZZALOL gives it.]
[To THOOTHOOBABA.] Give me the
gold.
THOOTHOOBABA
Master, none gave me gold.
[John touches his dagger, and looks like
using it.
THOOTHOOBABA gives it.]
JOHN
Take back your gold. Be silent about this.
You too.
[He throws gold to BAZZALOL.]
Gold does not make you silent, but there is
a thing that does. What is that thing?
Speak. What thing makes you silent?
BAZZALOL
O, great master, it is death.
JOHN
Death, eh? And how will you die if you
speak? You know how you will die?
BAZZALOL
Yes, heaven-sent.
JOHN
Tell your comrade, then.
BAZZALOL
We shall be eaten, great master.
JOHN
You know by what?
BAZZALOL
Small things, great master, small things.
Oh-h-h-h. Oh-h-h.
[THOOTHOOBABA's knees scarcely hold
him.]
JOHN
It is well.
Curtain
SCENE 2
A small street. Al Shaldomir.
Time: Next day.
[Enter L. the SHEIK OF THE
BISHAREENS.
He goes to an old green door, pointed of
course in the Arabic way.]
SHEIK OF THE BISHAREENS
Ho, Bishareens!
[The BISHAREENS run on.]
SHEIK
It is the place and the hour.
BISHAREENS
Ah, ah!
SHEIK [to FIRST BISHAREEN]
Watch.
[FIRST BISHAREEN goes to right and
watches up sunny street.]
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