DOM. (curtly.) No, you may not.
BEL. (intensely.) Then I will tell you one thing. You had better be on your greatest guard against a certain fat man. Beware of him!—let your sweetheart beware of him! Otherwise when you will think your love and happiness most secure, they will be ravished from you with utter cruelty.
DOM. Are you crazy?
BEL. Yes,—sixteen years crazy. But you—You have neither great wealth nor grand name. I am sorry for your youth. I warn you. (exit.)
DOM. Beluche—Well, of all.... (night sets in; enter Pedro, cloaked and hooded; he looks on the ground for the little picture he had seen Beluche throw aside; he is not seen by Lizbette and Dominique.) Here. (Dominique gives the locket to Lizbette; Pedro looks up; recognises Bella’s locket; Dominique speaks recklessly, moodily.) While you have your hand in, you may as well tell me whether I have a rival or no. (Pedro hears; understands Bella’s defense of pirates; exits without having been observed; Lizbette once more holds the locket aloft; shuts her eyes and sways.)
LIZ. (in ghostly monotone.) I seen a gemman ... dressed like de bridegroom ... ee fat, but ee not t’all stiff-jinted, dough; an’ ee do make love rapchewrous!
DOM. (intolerantly.) Ah! (aside.) I’ll look for the man in the locket. (exit.)
LIZ. Dis snake head pow’ful significant. (the moon rises, Lizbette puts locket in her bosom; takes her bottles from the grave and exits. Enter Lafitte; he walks across stage; sits absent-mindedly; rests his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Enter Mariana. “Her eyes are open, but their sense is shut.” She wears a long, filmy, trailing white dress; her hair falls over her shoulders; she has her back turned to Lafitte; she touches the tall flowers lightly going from one to another—)
MAR. (in a low, soft voice to a flower.) I am jealous of these long thoughts of yours. (encircling the flower-stalk with her arms, she puts her cheek against the flowers; smiles tenderly; then starts apprehensively.) Did you hear that?... (calmly.) The wind. I know a secret about the wind. It blows and blows till the world is full of a great white tempest that builds us—up to heaven!... (fearfully.) Hush! What was that? (Lafitte looks up; sees Mariana; starts; rises.)