Is it thou, Pélléas?—Come a little nearer, that I may see thee in the light….
PÉLLÉAS.
Grandfather, I received another letter at the same time as my brother's; a letter from my friend Marcellus…. He is about to die and calls for me. He would see me before dying….
ARKËL.
Thou wouldst leave before thy brother's return?—Perhaps thy friend is less ill than he thinks….
PÉLLÉAS
His letter is so sad you can see death between the lines…. He says he knows the very day when death must come…. He tells me I can arrive before it if I will, but that there is no more time to lose. The journey is very long, and if I await Golaud's return, it will be perhaps too late….
ARKËL.
Thou must wait a little while, nevertheless…. We do not know what this return has in store for us. And besides, is not thy father here, above us, more sick perhaps than thy friend…. Couldst thou choose between the father and the friend?… [Exit.