ALTOUM
[Attending him, left]
This suitor Keedur—I like well his looks
And bearing. What if he should guess the riddles?
CAPO.
That lies now with the Fates—and they obey me.
[They go out.
To the sound of kettledrums, tambourines and music outside, the scene is now for a moment empty. Then from both entrances two processions enter simultaneously.
From the right enter Eunuchs and female slaves of the harem; from the left Chinese soldiers and courtiers of the Emperor’s suite.
With ceremonial, salaaming and flare of music, the persons in the processions group themselves on either side about the thrones.