Act III. _Iphigénie_ is struck with the resemblance of the stranger to

her brother and, in order to save him from the sacrifice demanded by _Thoas_, charges him to deliver a letter to Electra. He declines to leave _Pylades_; nor until _Orestes_ affirms that he will commit suicide, rather than accept freedom at the price of his friend's life, does _Pylades_ agree to take the letter, and then only because he hopes to bring succour to _Orestes_.