SKIRINA.

My husband! My poor husband!

ADELMA (_enters from behind the scenes_).

Take heed, Princess!
Hasten away! The Emperor hither comes!

(_Pointing to_ BARAK _and_ SKIRINA.)

Conceal this pair here in the deepest dungeon.
Give me this dish of gold, and let Zelima
Come with me. I have bribed the sentinels
That stand at guard before the stranger's room.
Zelima, if you love your mother, do
What now I bid.

TURANDOT.

In you I put my trust,
Adelma. Help me! Do what you think fit!

(_At a sign from_ ADELMA, TRUFFALDINO
_leads_ BARAK _and_ SKIRINA _out to the
right_.)

ADELMA.

Zelima, come. (_To the eunuchs._) One of you
bring this basin.

(_Exit_ ADELMA, _followed by_ ZELIMA _and one
of the eunuchs, carrying the basin_.)

SCENE VII

TURANDOT.

TURANDOT.

What will Adelma do? If I should win,
Who would be greater then than Turandot?
Who then would dare to challenge her again?
Ah! what a joy, to cast the names to-morrow
Into his face, and drive him from my presence,
Shamed, disappointed! Not pure joy, perhaps....
I see him weeping, sad, depressed.... I feel
Something like pity at the thought of it....
Stay, Turandot, thou little soul, what thought
Is this thou harbourest now! Did _he_ show pity,
When _he_ in the Divan had solved the riddles?
Did he not make thee red with rage and shame?
Heaven, help Adelma now, and help me, Heaven,
To annihilate him utterly! Help me now
To guard my virgin freedom, succour me
Against the coarse and domineering sex!

SCENE VIII

ALTOUM, PANTALONE, TARTAGLIA, GUARDS, TURANDOT.

ALTOUM (_meditatively, aside, reading letter_).

So Fate at last has stricken that bloody robber,
The Sultan of Tashkent. And the same fate
Brings, by strange dispensation, Timur's son,
Calaf, to us, and to a great good-fortune.
Who dares to penetrate Thy mysteries,
Just Heaven?

PANTALONE (_whispering to_ TARTAGLIA).

What the devil is the old gentleman always
drivelling about now?

TARTAGLIA (_whispering_).

A secret messenger has arrived. Hell's loose somewhere.

ALTOUM (_stepping up to_ TURANDOT).

Child, the night is almost gone,
And, sleepless yet, you wander to and fro,
Seeking to know-something you cannot know.
I, who have nowise sought, have found it out:
You seek, and know it not.

(_Shows her the letter._)

Both names are writ
Upon this sheet. From countries far away
A secret rider bore it even now,
With other tidings, gr