[She raises the dagger to strike Merlin. Arielle, invisible, seizes her wrist and, without apparent effort, paralyzes her gesture. At the same moment, Merlin opens his eyes, smiling, rises and, with a movement of delight, takes Joyzelle tenderly in his arms.
Merlin.
It is well!... Joyzelle is great and Joyzelle triumphs!... She has conquered fate by listening to love; and it is you, my child, whom destiny marks out....
Joyzelle.
(Still failing to understand, and struggling.) No, no, no!... I could not.... Ah, though my heart fail me, I have courage yet!... And I have all my life, if I no longer have my strength, and never, no, never, so long as I have breath....
Merlin.
Look at me, Joyzelle.... I am restoring its strength to the arm which you raised in love's defence.... I leave it its weapon which tried to strike me and which was striking true.... Until that movement, all was undecided; now, all is clear, all is radiant and sure.... Look at me, Joyzelle, and no longer fear my lips.... They seek your brow, there at last to place the kiss which the father lays on the brow of his daughter....
Joyzelle.
What is this and what do you mean that I cannot understand?... Yes, I see in your eyes that you seem to love me as one loves a child.... So I was mistaken and I was on the point of...?