Part 88 (1/2)
_The women swim to the right end of the bath. The talk is silenced._
_Zira is brought in by the slave doorkeeper, followed by the Old Woman II._
_Wife. Wife: ”What have we here?”
Zira. She abuses girl.
Old Woman II._ Ill treats her.
[This scene enlarged Leads off into inner chamber of slaves.
during rehearsal. Zira in tears goes off by colonnade right Marsinah (Zira) does with the Old Woman.
not leave the stage, but veils. See play.]
_Wife._ ”I'll soon break your spirit!”
_The door left opens._
_The Executioner enters in a bad humour._
_Executioner. _Wife_: ”This is an unexpected delight!
Wife._ So early? Did the Sultan not keep you to supper?”
_Executioner_: ”What are you doing in the bath at this time of night?”
_W._ ”I was but waiting for you to ask what you wish done with the new slave.”
_E._ ”What new slave?”
_W._ ”The woman who has just arrived, guarded by two of your men.”
_The Doorkeeper_. ”The men you dispatched with Hajji, sir, this afternoon.”
_E_. ”Oh, that woman!
I shall have her strangled.”
Wife agrees.
Says girl a s.l.u.t.
Executioner finds his wife agrees with him to such an extent that he thinks the girl must be beautiful.
Rings a bell.
Old Woman II comes from Colonnade.
[This altered. Marsinah He orders her to bring Zira.
has not left the The wife tries to interfere.
stage. See note above.] Executioner angry.
Wife wonders why he is in such an angry mood.
Because he may lose his head any moment.
”Lose his head?” she asks.
”Yes. This new Sultan--”
_Zira is brought in from R. on steps by Old Woman. Zira is veiled._
_Executioner. Executioner orders her to unveil.
Zira. She hesitates.
Wife. He tears the veil from her face.
Old Woman._ He sees she is beautiful.
Says to his wife that she has lied.
”Go, get the girl ready.
I will come to her as soon as I have had my bath.
Until tomorrow, at least, I shall enjoy life.
After that--who knows?”
_He goes off up the Colonnade to left.
Wife orders Old Woman to take the girl away with her again.
Zira goes off by small door right with Old Woman.