g pale-winged to shore. In the left distance,
also, a portion of Famagouste is visible above the
waves--its orient walls and towers, white domes and
houses, interspersed with tall palms. The interior of
the Hall is the same; only the divan is placed to the
front and left, the lectern near the balcony leading to
the sleeping apartments and to the chapel._ SMARDA _is
lying lithely on the divan, beguiled with her charms
and amulets, and from time to time giving a low,
sinuous laugh._ VITTIA _enters, watches a moment,
thoughtful, then advances._

_Vittia._ Smarda----

_Smarda_ (_springing up_). Lady ... your slave!

_Vittia._ I think you are.
Think that you are--if ever the leopard yields.

_Smarda._ To you, lady? A-ha! let him refuse.
Command!

_Vittia._ And you will heed it well; I fear not.
But first I have thought of requital.

_Smarda_ (_avidly_). Ouie!

_Vittia._ Those amulets you wear, of jade and sard--

_Smarda_ (_quickly dark_). Are for revenge--to bring revenge!

_Vittia._ And from
Your Scythian home, over the hated sea,
They came with you.

_Smarda._ Yes.

_Vittia._ From the home whence you
Were torn by the Moor who was your one-time master.
Is it not so?

_Smarda._ The spirits strangle him!

[_Works at the charms._

_Vittia._ Well, if I win to-night what is begun
You shall not want, to-morrow,
Gold for a weightier witchery upon him.

[_The slave's eyes gleam._

But listen, every sinew will be needed
Still to achieve this wedding, though we have
Camarin with us, willing. So I've learned
A ship has come from Venice.

_Smarda_ (_quickly_). Pietro?

_Vittia._ Yes, Pietro, it must be, has arrived
With papers that will help.

_Smarda._ Ha! Fortune's touch!

_Vittia._ It is, but tardy. Therefore I must have
Them instantly.

_Smarda._ Ere he has time, lady,
To vaunt his loves, in Lusignan, and babble.

_Vittia._ As, wooing dolt, he will. But see to it.
I shall be in this place with lord Amaury,
Whom I must ... but no matter.
He left me suddenly a season since