I never let a thought steep in my brain or heart.
Save that of thee. And thou wert mine!

Ayesha (Withdrawing a little).

I almost fear the love thou hast for me.

Thy boldness!

Tell me once again, thy coming,
Was alone, Eh! Unattended?

Ammar (In jest).—

Save by a shadow! Oh! Ho!

My dancing shadow of delight.

I saw it many times on glancing back.

As I spurred swiftly on,

Over the silvery pathway, lighted by this glorious moon.

(They continue to gaze out, talking softly for some time.)

Ayesha (Suddenly, with apprehension).—

I thought mine eyes beheld a figure move,
Without the courtyard, There.

Ammar (Shaking his head and trying to draw her from the window as she continues to peer out intently).—

Only the blind slave Yacob! (Ya-co) Who

sits beneath,

The towering cypress-tree repeating the evening

Koran,

In one long, low monotone.

The night seems but a lengthened day to him,
Yet cooler, soothing to his blistered eye.

Ayesha (Not heeding his words).—

Again the figure moved!

This time within the court-yard closer,

Crouching, now stealing, like some black image

of the forest

Seeking for its prey (she shudders.)

Ammar. And causing one, a little bird to flutter,
In her cage (He laughs.) Come!

(With effort he draws her away.)

Thy mood was born amid spring flowers,
To radiate and dazzle, not to frown on grim
fantastics with alarm.

So let us laugh away thy imagery.

(BAY-ANA now slips into the room murmuring in some alarm, kneeling before them.)

Bay-Ana.-My Mistress! Master. There into the court

Ammar.

yard,

Did a figure move,

And mutter words incomprehensible.

The blind slave, Yacob, no other. Go.
Bay-Ana (Starts to arise, a voice now is faintly heard).—

But!

Ayesha (Whispering to BAY-ANA).

Peer closer now and speak low of thy fears. Bay-Ana (Parting the curtains for an instant, looking below. In terror she turns, prostrating herself at the feet of the two, who stand rigid, listening to the voices advancing.)

The Sheik! thy husband.

Allah be praised-Allah-All-a-h.

Ayesha (Transfixed).—

So! Thou hast been tricked by thine own shadow.

(Aroused, gripping AMMAR, by the arm, and pushing him to the fretted aperture.)

There-hide in there, down by the narrow curv

ed-stair,

Then drop in black obscurity-until !——

Ammar (Stolidly).—

Here will I stay and crush my trickster,

For all time.

Ayesha. Thy Father!! (In a frenzy, commanding)
Thou wilt go-

For all the love thou holdest for me

There

(AMMAR looks into her face, then seizes her in his arms for an instant, kissing her lips, finally rushing through the darkened aperture. AYESHA staggers to a divan limply falling just as the curtains part at back, and the Old Sheik stumbles into the semi-darkened room, attended by his slaves.)

Kassem

(Calling loudly).-Light! Light!

(The slaves busy themselves quickly lighting the hanging lamps, thus magnifying the sumptuous interior with artificial splendor, BAY-ANA hides at a remote distance eyeing KASSEM as he paces the floor in an agitated manner, apparently ignoring the

presence of AYESHA, who all the while is watching, through partially closed eyelids the scene. Nor does she make a move to stir, 'til KASSEM has seated himself upon the couch opposite allowing two EUNUCHS to unclasp his outer trappings. Slowly she rubs her eyes, as if awakened from a deep sleep, by the sudden glare, a sight of her Lord, and she moves rapidly with feigned delight, kneeling at his feet salaaming low.)

Ayesha. Master, My Husband. (She starts to take his hand but he shakes her off.)

Kassem. Nay! Do not touch me.

(Impatiently spurring the slaves to hasten at their task, still disregarding AYESHA, who crouches for a while, alarmed.

At last she takes a few of the blossoms from the tabourette, at hand, kissing them she lays them at his feet saying softly.)

Ayesha. They bid thee welcome for me, Excellency. Kassem (With innocent intention pressing a flower beneath his feet and laughing diabolically).–

Welcome! Welcome-Where? (AYESHA retreats still further not comprehending as he continues smoothly.)

My fresh sweet pomegranate must not rot. With human touch, Thou art most fair, Surprising fair.

(He claps his hands shouting loudly.)

Bring hither salt, and myrrh-aye spicy-oil
And camphor cool, A good amount,

(This to the slaves who step back with forebodings.)

And do not slink about thy task, for time

Is passing-fleet, salt! A plentiful amount 't will
take.

And rub all neath this withered flesh of mine
Until it tingles, smarts, and caustic eats
Away the curse that fell upon my camp this
night.

Swift (The slaves withdraw.)

Ayesha (Nearing him).

What evil are thy words now sheltering,
Master-Speak?

Kassem (Dramatically).

An evil far too black and hideous,

To fall on thee, My Innocent.

(Holding her in suspense as the slaves return bearing aloft stone jugs, and bottles of silver filigree. Also a brazier with lighted coal. Then in distinct and awe-inspiring tone KASSEM proclaims.)

The Plague!! (The mamluks fall back muttering the Native dread.) "Ta-ün!Ta-ün!"

(AYESHA frozen at the word does not move. Realizing by degrees, she is not suspected, a feeling of infinite relief sweeps away all fear, and she impulsively tries to clasp her husband's hand once more.) See, Kassem! I know no fear. Now would my

Ayesha.

courage,

Serve to stay thy fright of evil,

Thou Most Learned-One.

Kassem (Shrinking back).—

Hold! Lay not the tips of thy soft hands upon

me,

Lest they shrivel at my touch.

(KASSEM noting the slave's hesitancy to approach he seizes a stalwart eunuch by the shoulder as he stoops cringing to drop camphor on the lighted brazier muttering in a threatening voice)

Kassem.

Wouldst thou prefer a gnawing death of fever,
Eating at thy vitals? or a shorter, surer thrust,
By this? (Tapping the hilt, dangling at his side.
The slave cringes still lower.)

Then to my bidding. Fast!

Rub oil and myrrh here-'twixt the palms of either hand,

Making them soft and pliable.

(Mockingly) My touch is hard they telleth me, Remember!

The Plague! hath fallen in our midst! (Commanding) To work!

(The attendants rush heedlessly about their task fearing to refuse, rubbing hands full of salt upon the arms, neck, and back of KASSEM, anointing all later with myrrh and spiced-oil.

His wrinkled skin gleams under their touch, his eyes glistening

brighter, as he cat-like views his cowering wife lost in thoughtful amazement.)

Kassem.

Enough! Now do I feel a new strength
Coursing through my veins.

(The slaves cease and gather the various utensils leaving the slave-girl BAY-ANA still watching from her niche as they exit.) Ayesha. When did My Master learn of such calamity? Kassem. Aye when? So long there is no doubt. Ayesha (With feigned feeling).

Some helpless slave left in the wilderness

To be devoured by hungry beasts,

Or those weird, frenzied creatures patterned of a fevered brain.

Wasting away, wasting, wasting, 'til he is no

more.

(She covers her face.)

Kassem. Instead thy fancy must portray a vulture,
Spreading dark evil glances in his flight,

He must keep soaring lest he fall into a trap.
(Meaningly.)

Already set. He did escape the camp,

This night, when I commandeth all to halt!
Beyond the city wall, fearing to bring

Disaster unto many homes and thou,
My youngest bride-

(He holds her glaring greedily into her eyes while she evades his

glance bowing her head.)

Thou sayest one escaped thy camp this night?

He crept away at dusk.

Ayesha.

Kassem.

Ayesha.

He might have sped into some thicket,

There to die, turning his face to Mecca.

And the rising sun, Ah! Pity him My Master
This Mamluk, this serving-one.

Kassem (Rising).-A serving one, indeed!

Dresst in a jewelled-turban, hilt, and goldembroidered sash.

Sleek, dark, and good to look upon,

With words at his command to touch the ear
And tender fancy of the young.

Such is thy slave, who creeps about this night.
Leaving his crushed desires as dust beneath
His feet, for other men to trample on-And kill.