Part 27 (1/2)

What the devil _is_ the fellow raving about?

Women, those d.a.m.ned women! They've been at him the whole night, not half, and his brain's collapsed! h.e.l.lo, you! Present arms! Dress your ranks! March!

(_Exeunt._ _Music of drums and other instruments of war._)

END OF THE SECOND ACT.

THE THIRD ACT

SCENE I

_The great hall of the imperial Divan. In the ”background, covered by a curtain, an altar with a Chinese idol; two priests standing beside it._ ALTOUM _on his throne, the doctors on their cus.h.i.+ons_, PANTALONE _and_ TARTAGLIA _on each side of the_ EMPEROR.

ALTOUM, PANTALONE, TARTAGLIA, _the_ DOCTORS, _the_ GUARDS. _Later_ CALAF.

(_Enter_ CALAF _excitedly from right_. _He looks round uneasily and suspiciously._ _When he arrives at the middle of the room he bows to_ ALTOUM.)

CALAF (_aside_).

How's this? No trace of ambushed murderers?

Did the slave lie? Can Turandot have found The names out, and rescinded her commands?

Then I lose all. Death had been better far.

ALTOUM.

My son, you seem excited and in fear, And I were fain had you a merry face.

Now all is well. Your sorrows are at end.

Glad tidings that concern you I will save A little while. As for my daughter, she Is yours. She sent to me thrice in the night Pet.i.tioning release from this encounter.

Therefore I charge you, son, be of good cheer!

PANTALONE.

Heaven knows, my dearest Royal Highness, I myself had to trot off in the night to pay a call on her Royal Highness in the Seraglio and receive her most ill.u.s.trious commands. I didn't even have the time to tumble into my slippers and get dressed properly. And it was so cold, Heaven knows (_coughs_), I'm s.h.i.+vering yet. Never mind! Never mind!

TARTAGLIA.

They fetched me out of bed at 5 a.m. It was just beginning to get light a bit. She made me stand in front of her half an hour while she went on whining something or other. For sheer cold and vexation I talked the most clotted nonsense to her. (_Aside._) It would have suited my humour better if I could have given her a downright good spanking.

ALTOUM.

You see yourself: she is so slow in coming.