EM.
For this,
That, thinking I am wed, she also thinks
To call me husband--after.

GUeLISTANE.
Who'll believe it?...

GANEM.
There long has been a woman who believes it.

GUeLISTANE.
Thou liest: saidst thou not the plan was new?
And now thou sayst there long has been a woman.

GANEM.
There has: I meshed her in this web of lies
Before I saw the goal. Today 'tis clear.

GUeLISTANE.
Who is't?

GANEM.
The limping daughter of a poor
Old pastrycook, who lives in the last alley
Down in the sailors' quarter.

GUeLISTANE.
And her name?

GANEM.
What's in a name? Her eyes, with doglike fear,
Clung to me when I passed, one of those faces
That lure me, since so greedily they drink
In lies, and weave out of themselves such fancies.
And so I oft would stand and talk to her.

[Illustration: LAKE IN THE GRUNEWALD]

_From the Painting by Walter Leistikow_

GUeLISTANE. And who gives her the poison?

GANEM.
Why, her father,
By keeping it where she can steal it from him.

GUeLISTANE.
What? He a pastry-maker?

GANEM.
But quite skilful,
And very poor--and yet not to be purchased
By us at any price: he is of those
Who secretly reject our holy books,
And eat no food on which our shadow falls.
I'll visit her, while thou art eating dinner
With him.

GUeLISTANE.
So each will have his part to play.

GANEM.
But mine shall end all further repetition
Of thine. Soon I return. Make some excuse
To leave him. If I found thee with him--

GUeLISTANE (puts her hand over his mouth).
Hush!

GANEM (overcome).
How cool thy fingers are, and yet, how burns
Thy blood within them, sorceress! Thou holdest
Me captive in the deepest cell, and feedest
Me e'er at midnight with thy kennels' leavings;
Thou scourgest me, and in the dust I grovel.

GUeLISTANE.
E'en so, and thou?

GANEM (cr