Strength now to walk it! strength unfaltering.
_Yolanda._ Here to take her place, Here at the lowest of her destiny.
_Yolanda._ But wholly shall. Clasp me within your arms; he must believe 'Tis I and not his wife you have unhallowed, Your arms about me, though they burn! and breathe me Thirst of unbounded love as unto her.
_Camarin_ (_hoarsely_). With all my body and soul-breath I love you,
And all this night is ours for ecstasy. Kiss me with quenchless kisses, and embrace Me with your beauty, till----
[YOLANDA _with a cry, as of fear, looses herself, pretending to discover_ RENIER, _who is struck rigid._
_Moro._ My lord, my lord!... It is Yolanda.
[YOLANDA_, realising, stunned, sinks back to the divan._
SCENE: _The forecourt of the castle, beyond which is the garden and in the distance the mountains, under the deep tropical blue of morning. On the right the wall enclosing the castle grounds runs back and is lost in the foliage of cypress, palm, orange; it is pierced by an arched gate with lifted portcullis. On the left rises the dark front of the castle, its arabesqued doorway open. Across the rear a low arcaded screen of masonry, with an entrance to the right, separates the court from the garden. Before it a fountain, guarded by a statue of a Knight of St. John, falls into a porphyry basin. By the castle door, to the front, and elsewhere, are stone seats._ HASSAN _is standing moodily by the screen, left, looking out the portcullis. He starts, hearing steps, and as the old leach_ TREMITUS _enters, motions him silently into the castle; then muttering "the old blood-letter," stands as before, while_ CIVA, MAGA, _and_ MAURIA _are heard in the garden, and enter gaily bearing water-jars to the fountain._ CIVA _sees his look and breaks into a twitting laughter. The other two join her._
_Civa._ Look at him! Maga! Mauria! behold! Was ever sight so sweet upon the world? Is he not very Joy?
_Mauria_ (_critically_). Now, is he not? With the price of vinegar upon his face.
The price of vinegar! who'll buy!--Not I! Not I! Not I! Not I!
_Civa._ Verily! And not a man! he has discovered it! You're not a man, Mauria! we were duped.
But see him now--a mummy of the Nile! Who died of choler!
_Mauria._ Then, a care, he'll bite. He's been in the grave a long while and he's hungry. A barley-loaf, quick, Maga!
