[All bow.]
SCENE II
Place: At Shushan, the palace.
Characters: King Ahasuerus, Mordecai, Maidens, Haman, Servants, Courtiers.
[Two servants are standing in the court room of the palace. Enter a messenger followed by Esther and Mordecai.]
Messenger [announces to the servants in the room]: This maiden has come to see the King.
[He goes out.]
First Servant: This is the place. Wait thou here. [To Mordecai]: What art thou here for? Thou wilt have to depart.
Mordecai: I only brought this maiden. I beg of thee let me have a few words with her; then I will withdraw.
First Servant: Speak then quickly, before the King cometh.