Gülistane (in an undertone).
Why, she is mad.
[She lays one present after another on the
servant's arms.]
Sobeide (standing at some distance from her).
No, no, I am not mad. Oh, be not angry.
The dogs are after me! But first a man.
I'm almost dead with fear. He is my friend,
Will tell you who I am. Ye do not know
How terror can transform a human being.
I ask you, are not all of us in terror
Of even drunken men? This was a murd'rer.
I am not brave, but with a lie that sped
Into my wretched head I held him off
Awhile—then he came on, and I could feel
His hands. Take pity on me, be not angry!
Ye sit there at the table fair with candles,
And I disturb. But if ye are his friends,
Ask him to tell you all. And later on,
When we shall meet and ye shall know me better,
We both will laugh about it. But as yet
(Shuddering.)
I could not laugh at it.
Gülistane (turning to her).
Who is thy friend, and who will tell us all?
Sobeide (with innocent friendliness).
Why, Ganem.
Gülistane.
Oh, what business hast thou here?
Sobeide (steps closer, looks fixedly at her).
What, art thou not the widow
Of Kamkar, the ship-captain?
Gülistane.
And thou the daughter
Of Bachtjar, the gem-dealer?