Act III shows the feast and the bacchanale at the house of Bacchis. The theft of the mirror is discovered. Corinna, a slave, is accused and crucified. Chrysis is inwardly exultant that her wish has been obeyed.
In Act IV Chrysis goes to Démétrios to receive the gifts and to bestow the reward. Démétrios, mad with passion, clasps her in his embrace. The clamour without reminds him of his misdeed. In a fit of disgust he demands that the beautiful woman shall not hoard her treasures in secret, but appear in public decked with them, as an atonement. He sends her away.
On the island of the lighthouse of Alexandria the crowds discuss the theft of the mirror and the crucifixion of Corinna. Timon announces the slaying of Touni and the stealing of her comb. Chrysis appears wrapped in a long mantle. The sacred courtesans and the temple guards announce the theft of the jewels from the temple. Suddenly Chrysis appears on the highest balcony of the lighthouse, the stolen comb in her hair, the mirror in her hand, and the necklace about her throat. Disclosed in a flash of lightning the crowds think it is the goddess in person. Soon they realize the truth and Chrysis is seized and taken to prison.
The Jailor brings a poisoned goblet to her cell. She drinks—Démétrios arrives too late, to find her dead.
Her friends, Myrto and Rhodis, bury her body in the Garden of Hermanubis.
L’ATTAQUE DU MOULIN
THE ATTACK ON THE MILL
This is a four-act music-drama by Alfred Bruneau, the libretto by Louis Gallet, based on a story from Zola's "Soirées de Medan." It was produced at the Opéra Comique, Paris, November 23, 1893, and in this country in 1908.
The tale is an episode of the Franco-Prussian War. In the first act we see the betrothal of Françoise, daughter of the miller, Merlier, to Dominique. The Town Crier announces the declaration of war.
In the second act the mill is attacked and captured by the Germans. Dominique is made a prisoner and locked in the mill. Françoise gets a knife to him. While (in the third act) the girl engages the attention of the sentinel, Dominique makes his way out of the mill, kills the sentinel, and escapes. In the fourth act the French, guided by Dominique, return. But just as they enter, with Dominique at their head, the Germans shoot Merlier before his daughter's eyes.