Your pardon! Only listen to me. You may die afterwards if you wish it, I promise you—but in some less terrible way——without this bloodshed. I will even furnish you the means, if you still wish it——
EMPRESS [With sudden gentleness]
In some less terrible way! Yes, that is what I desire. The Potion of the Great Deliverance, we sovereigns are never without it. You have it too, have you not?
EMPEROR
Night and day within easy reach, especially since you began to risk your life hourly, in the thick of the battle. I feared that I should be unable to capture alive my beautiful Phoenix of War! Be assured, we have the Deliverance. It is in this golden case, among the trinkets at my girdle.
EMPRESS
And you will give it to me?
EMPEROR
Yes.
EMPRESS