Part 88 (2/2)
There is a tapping sound on a screen on the right side._
_Wife._ ”Hajji!”
_Wife goes and opens screen in the wall right. Hajji enters._
_Wife. Wife tells him to be quiet.
Hajji._ Executioner near at hand.
Expects an amorous embrace.
Hajji says there is no time for love making.
He has come about his daughter.
_W._ ”Your daughter?”
_H._ ”Yes. Zira--She came here for the Executioner. Has he seen her? Has he gone in to her?”
_W._ ”So she's your daughter?
I have you to thank for this creature, Another rival.”
Hajji wants to know where the girl is.
Can't Wife bring her out here and let the girl escape with him.
_W._ ”Escape?”
_H._ ”In that way you can get rid of a rival.”
_W._ ”And be strangled myself?”
He urges her.
If she won't let the girl escape, at least won't she take the girl to a sanctuary?
Sanctuary? What for?
To get her out of the way--away from Executioner.
Why not take her to the Mosque?
The Mosque of the Carpenters, where the venerable priest is?
He entreats Wife by the love she has for him.
Points out the dangerous charm of his daughter.
She will prove a great rival.
Wife is torn between jealousy and fear for her own life.
_H._ ”You can say you took her to the Sanctuary for purification--Take her there!”
_They are interrupted._
_The Executioner appears in a thin robe in the colonnade with two slaves. Wife escapes rapidly into inner room to right. Hajji's escape is cut off. He grovels on the floor._
_Hajji. Executioner sees Hajji and dismisses the Executioner._ slaves.
Amazed at Hajji's presence.
/ Hajji says he has done everything to get back
to Executioner. Bribed the Sultan's Gaoler,
faced untold dangers.
[All this much more
Grovels and at the same time tries to find out direct and brutal in < the=”” executioner's=”” position=”” in=”” regard=”” to=”” the=”” play.=”” change=”” made=””>
when play was
written.]
Has he lost his power?
What has Sultan done to Executioner?
Executioner in a boundless rage.
How dare Hajji come and ask him questions?
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