‘Calm thyself, my soul. It grieves me much that when I came to soothe I have only galled thee. All’s well, all’s well. Say that Jabaster lives. What then? He lives, and may he prove more duteous than before; that’s all.’
‘He lives, he is my prisoner, he awaits his doom. It must be given.’
‘Yes, yes!’
‘Shall we pardon?’
‘My lord will do that which it pleases him.’
‘Nay, nay, Schirene, I pray thee be more kind. I am most wretched. Speak, what wouldst thou?’
‘If I must speak, I say at once, his life.’
‘Ah me!’
‘If our past loves have any charm, if the hope ot future joy, not less supreme, be that which binds thee to this shadowy world, as it does me, and does alone, I say his life, his very carnal life. He stands between us and our loves, Alroy, and ever has done. There is no happiness if Jabaster breathe; nor can I be the same Schirene to thee as I have been, if this proud rebel live to spy my conduct.’
‘Banish him, banish him!’