en, and if you
will not kill Daoud for me, give a banquet,
John. There is no harm in a banquet.

JOHN

Very well. When do you want it?

MIRALDA

To-morrow, John. Bid all the great ones
to it, all the illustrious ones in Al Shaldomir.

JOHN

Very well.

MIRALDA

And bid Daoud come.

JOHN

Daoud? You asked me to kill him.

MIRALDA

I do not wish that any longer, John.

JOHN

You have queer moods, Miralda.

MIRALDA

May I not change my moods, John?

JOHN

I don't know. I don't understand them.

MIRALDA

And ask Hafiz el Alcolahn, John.

JOHN

Hafiz? Why?

MIRALDA

I don't know, John. It was just my fancy.

JOHN

Your fancy, eh?

MIRALDA

That was all.

JOHN

Then I will ask him. Have you any other
fancy?

MIRALDA

Not now, John.

JOHN

Then go, Miralda.

MIRALDA

Go?

JOHN

Yes.

MIRALDA

Why?

JOHN

Because I command it.

MIRALDA

Because you command it?

JOHN

Yes, I, the Shereef Al Shaldomir.

MIRALDA

Very well.

[Exit L.

He walks to the door to see that she is
really gone. He comes back to centre and
stands with back to audience, pulling a
cord quietly from his pocket and arranging
it.

He moves half left and comes up behind
BAZZALOL. Suddenly he slips the cord
over BAZZALOL's head, and tightens it
round his neck.]

[BAZZALOL flops on his knees.

THOOTHOOBABA goes on fanning.]

JOHN

Speak!

[BAZZALOL is silent.

JOHN tightens it more. THOOTHOOBABA
goes on quietly fanning.]

BAZZALOL

I cannot.

JOHN

If you would speak, raise your left hand.
If you raise your left hand and do not speak
you shall die.

[BAZZALOL is silent. JOHN tightens
more. BAZZALOL raises his great flabby
left hand high. JOHN releases the cord.
BAZZALOL blinks and moves his mouth.]

BAZZALOL

Gracious Shereef, one visited the great
lady and gave us gold, saying, "Speak not."

JOHN

When?

BAZZALOL

Great master, one hour since.

JOHN [a little viciously]

Who?

BAZZALOL

O heaven-sent, he was Hafiz el Alcolahn.

JOHN

Give me the gold.

[BAZZALOL gives it.]

[To THOOTHOOBABA.] Give me the
gold.

THOOTHOOBABA

Master, none gave me gold.

[John touches his dagger, and looks like
using it.

THOOTHOOBABA gives it.]

JOHN

Take back your gold. Be silent about this.
You too.

[He throws gold to BAZZALOL.]

Gold does not make you silent, but there is
a thing that does. What is that thing?
Speak. What th