voice_] I am not like other
men.

[_Unnoticed an equerry enters, and stands at PHEDRO'S side with a
large, scented and sealed envelope._]

EQUERRY

Your pardon, sirs.

PHEDRO

[_Going swiftly over to the equerry, and in a low aside._]

For whom is your letter?

EQUERRY [_in a whisper_]

For one Messire Gwymplane.

PHEDRO [_attempts to take the letter_]

I will see he gets it and reads it.

EQUERRY

Who are you?

[_PHEDRO pulls up his mask._]

O, Messire Phedro.

[_He bows low and hands him the note._]

PHEDRO [_in a grand voice_]

You may leave. I will deliver your note. [_then in a low voice for the
equerry alone_] Wait behind the hedge and I will give you an answer.

[_Exit equerry. GWYMPLANE starts to depart. PHEDRO puts his arm
on his, detaining him, while he opens the letter and reads it. A
smile of malicious joy crosses his countenance which he quickly
cloaks with a look of alarm. He speaks aside:_]

How strange this is! Strange as if a precious bird long waited for in
the night were to suddenly fly down and peck at my very gun.
However ...

[_He returns to himself with a start, walks over to the hedge
where the equerry is waiting for the reply._]

Say to her Grace that she is understood, and shall be almost instantly
obeyed. [_He turns to GWYMPLANE._]

GWYMPLANE

I beg of you, sir, permit me to depart.

PHEDRO

There is trouble abroad and it concerns you.

GWYMPLANE

Me?

PHEDRO

Still there is probably much time.

GWYMPLANE

Explain.

PHEDRO

What do you call the blind girl?

GWYMPLANE

Dea. It is not anything about Dea? There was not anything about Dea in
that letter, was there?

PHEDRO

It was all about her.

GWYMPLANE

How?

PHEDRO

Listen. Instead of attending to this myself, as I have done in
hundreds of similar cases, I am going to take you into my confidence.

GWYMPLANE

What is it? What is it?

PHEDRO

Your lovely fellow artiste is gone.

GWYMPLANE [_crying out_]

Gone? My Dea! That is impossible. She does not wish to go anywhere
that I am not.

PHEDRO

Perhaps her wishes remained unconsulted. She may have been abducted.

GWYMPLANE [_drawing back_]

What are you saying? It is so monstrous I must laugh or scream if I go
on listening to you. [_shakes PHEDRO by the arm_] Come out with it.
Where has she gone? But she is in bed! Where else?

[_He runs back to the cart,