Chapter 15

BARAK, then SKIRINA.

BARAK.

(_Sees_ SKIRINA _coming from the Palace_.)

Who's there? Skirina? What! And in such haste? Whence come you? Whither are you going?

SKIRINA.

Why, For sheer delight because the unknown Prince Had won the game; a little, too, because I itched to hear how the proud tigress took it, I ran to see Zelima in the harem.

BARAK.

Incautious woman! What is this you say? I see. I hear you boasting: "Yes, just fancy, The strange Prince spoke to us; my husband knows him...." Is it not as I say?

SKIRINA.

Well, if it is, What harm is there?

BARAK.

Confess it! You have told!

SKIRINA.

Well, yes! She asked me straightway for his name, And, to be frank, I promised her...

BARAK (_angrily_).

Damnation! The cat's out of the bag. Insensate woman! Come hence! Away out of the town!

(TRUFFALDINO _appears with his eunuchs in the background._)

Too late! There come the eunuchs.

(_To_ SKIRINA.)

Fool of a woman, go! Go home and hide thy folly!

(_To the eunuchs._)

Here I am!