Ximénès. Take care that you are not seated on a wooden horse! (She attempts to speak) Enough of those mummeries. You confessed the other day of practising evil acts upon your neighbors, causing their children and fowls to die, of setting fire to their roofs and sending hail upon their fields.
Afrida. To avenge myself upon those who were happier than I.
Ximénès. You confessed to being at a nocturnal revelry attended by witches, did you not?
Afrida. Oh! I have often been (counting on her fingers) more than thirty times.
Ximénès. By what power do you go?
Afrida. The black sheep or the large red cat, which come to take me from my bed while I sleep—And then. Gee-up! gee-up! across the fields, accompanied by the sound of bells to where they are assembling. There the great devil Astaroth, on seeing me, says: “Ah! here is my little Afrida! Come, mignon, come here that I may pet you!” For she loves me above all and always says: “Go, fear nothing, my little chicken. If they want to burn you, I shall drag away the wood before all the world. And we shall laugh then. Oh! we shall laugh well! Ah! how we shall laugh then!”
She writhes and chokes with laughter, after being seated on a step at the foot of Ximénès.
Ximénès. Yes, yes! we laugh! That is admitted!—And those whom you accuse of having been at the revel with you—will Astaroth also save them from the fire?
Afrida. (Hatefully) Oh! those who have treated me like an old fool, those who are young and togged out, I shall surely let them burn on your fire, while Astaroth carries me away!
Ximénès. Turn your eyes a little to that side (indicating to her Zoraya) and look at that woman. (She rises, pointing to Zoraya) Yes, she there!—Does she not remind you of something?