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<![CDATA[ller's heiress.
DAOUD
Yes, master.
JOHN BEAL
Hasten.
[Exit DAOUD.]
I have sent him for Hussein.
MIRALDA
I don't know their language.
JOHN BEAL
You will see him, and I'll tell you what he
says.
MIRALDA [to ARCHIE]
Have you been here long?
ARCHIE BEAL
No. I think he wrote to me by the same
mail as he wrote to you (if they have mails
here). I came at once.
MIRALDA
So did I; but you weren't on the Empress
of Switzerland.
ARCHIE BEAL
No, I came round more by land.
JOHN BEAL
You know, I hardly like bringing Hussein
in here to see you. He's such a--he's rather
a...
MIRALDA
What's the matter with him?
JOHN BEAL
Well, he's rather of the brigand type, and
one doesn't know what he'll do.
MIRALDA
Well, we must see him first and hear what
he has to say before we take any steps.
JOHN BEAL
But what do you propose to do?
MIRALDA
Why, if he pays me everything he owes, or
gives up the security...
JOHN BEAL
The security is the pass.
MIRALDA
Yes. If he gives up that or pays...
JOHN BEAL
You know he's practically king of the
whole country. It seems rather cheek almost
my sending for him like this.
MIRALDA
He must come.
JOHN BEAL
But what are you going to do?
MIRALDA
If he gives up the pass...
JOHN BEAL
Why, if he gives up the pass you'd be
you'd be a kind of queen of it all.
MIRALDA
Well, if he does that, all right...
JOHN BEAL
But what if he doesn't?
MIRALDA
Why, if he doesn't pay...
HUSSEIN [off]
I am here.
JOHN BEAL
Be seen.
[Enter HUSSEIN.]
HUSSEIN
Greeting once more.
JOHN BEAL
Again greeting.... The great lady,
Miss Clement, is here.
[HUSSEIN and MIRALDA look at each
other.]
You will pay to Miss Clement and not to
your god of bronze. On the word of an
Englishman, your god of bronze shall not have
one gold piece that belongs to the great lady!
HUSSEIN [looking contemptuous]
On the word of the Lord of the Pass, I only
pay to Hinnard.
[He stands smiling while MIRALDA
regards him. Exit.]
ARCHIE BEAL
Well?
JOHN BEAL
He won't pay.
ARCHIE BEAL
What are we to do now?
JOHN BEAL [to MIRALDA]
I'm afraid he's rather an ugly customer to
introduce you to like that. I'm sorry he came
now.
MIRALDA
O, I like him, I think he looks splendid.
ARCHIE BEAL
Well, what are we to do?
JOHN BEAL
Yes.
ARCHIE BEAL
What do you say, Miss Clement?]]>
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