SCENE III
The same, Lazarus. At the back of the vestibule, the Slaves. Further away, imagined rather than perceived, the crowd of Jews.
(A great silence. Lazarus advances slowly from the back of the vestibule. He looks neither to the right nor to the left. The Slaves of the villa, who have hastened up among the last columns, form a group for a moment as though to block his way. But, at the approach of the man risen from the dead, who seems unaware of their presence, they fall back silently, one after the other. Lazarus enters by the back of the Atrium and stops on the threshold, which is raised by three steps. Mary Magdalene moves backwards to one of the columns in the foreground, against which she crushes herself, motionless. But Verus, breaking the silence, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, goes up to Lazarus.)
Verus (in a hectoring voice)
Who are you?... (Lazarus does not reply.) You do not answer?... It is indeed easier to cover with silence what one dare not confess. But, if you have nothing to say, you have no business here. It is well for you that my pity is stronger than my indignation. Go!
(A new and profound silence.)
Lazarus (in a voice that does not seem yet to have recovered its human note, to Magdalene)
Come. The Master calls you.
(Magdalene leaves the column against which she is leaning and takes four or five steps towards Lazarus, as though walking in her sleep.)
Verus (barring the road)