SCENE XIII

_The same_, WINGED PRINCE _returns hurriedly._

WINGED PRINCE [_To_ FAITHFUL PRINCE.]

A courier has just arrived and brings strange news.

EMPRESS

What is it now?

WINGED PRINCE

The Viceroy of the South sends to explain to your Majesty that the reason that he was unable to reach the palace for the ceremony to which he was invited was because he was taken prisoner at the moment when he was about to enter Nanking.

EMPRESS

But the Viceroy came here!

WINGED PRINCE

That was not the real Viceroy.

EMPRESS

Not the real Viceroy?

WINGED PRINCE

He was imprisoned on a ship, but no harm came to him, and he was treated with every consideration-----His letter explains how he escaped.

FAITHFUL PRINCE

Treated with every consideration! What does that imply? The spies of the Tsings are less generous.

WINGED PRINCE

The Viceroy sent this courier in all haste; he awaits orders to come and prostrate himself at the foot of the throne and sue for pardon.

EMPRESS

Then that man who was here?----Oh, in what frightful web are we now caught?----And I was about to entrust my son to that unknown man!-----I ordered him to remain here. Run, perhaps he has not yet gone.

ARROW-BEARER [_Returning_]

The pavilion is empty. This silk scroll was placed so as to attract immediate attention.

EMPRESS [_excitedly_]

Give it to me!----[ARROW-BEARER _gives the scroll to_ FAITHFUL PRINCE, _who gives it to the_ EMPRESS. _Aside._] In my dream----The serpent that coiled about me----Ah! It was he! [_She steps aside to read._] Verses!----In my trouble, I shall scarce be able to read them. And then the meaning seems so mysterious. [_To_ THE OFFICERS _standing nearest to her._] Let twenty horsemen be sent out at once in all directions, pursue him. Let the neighbouring towns be searched as well. A hundred thousand taels to him who brings that man back to me. Go!----[_To_ FAITHFUL PRINCE _handing him the silken scroll._] Read it to me Faithful Prince.

FAITHFUL PRINCE [_reading_]

Beneath my mask I kept a secret watch on you. You saw my face, but not my features true; You heard my words, but not my secret heart. The day will come when I shall throw away the mask, Play your good angel's part, And all shall bow beneath the conquering dragon's task.

The traitor is a fine scholar, but he does not unmask his identity.

WINGED PRINCE [_To_ THE CHILD]

Your Majesty must no longer keep about your neck like a relic a present given you by an impostor.

THE CHILD [_Excitedly_]

But I will keep it. I thought of my dead father when I saw that man, and when he told me that he would like to have me for a son, he was keeping back his tears.

EMPRESS

The instinct of children does not mislead them-----nor can I believe, either, that the unknown visitor meant us harm----Let us wait awhile before we begin to hate him.

[_She stretches out her hand and takes the poem which she places next to her heart._]