those of thankless old age or of love that has but little hope....

Joyzelle.

What do you mean to do?

Merlin.

I am waiting for the final certainty; and then I shall do what it is lawful and necessary to do to remove all fear of an enemy who would stop at nothing. The pitiless measures which I shall take concern your safety as much as my own; for the same plots surround us both and we are united by fate.... I can tell you no more to-day; have confidence in me; perhaps you already know that your happiness is mine....

Joyzelle.

You saved my life, I remember that....

Merlin.

You remember it without any kindliness: but I hope that one day you will do me justice.... (To Lancéor.) As for you, go. The information which I have received is not open to doubt. When the facts which I fear have confirmed it, I shall act. Meanwhile, you are my prisoner. You will be shown the part of the palace reserved for you. If you go beyond the limits laid down, you become your own judge and pronounce your own sentence. There will be no appeal. Go, my orders are given....

Lancéor.

I obey, but only until you recognize your error. We shall meet soon, Joyzelle....

Merlin.

No, bid her farewell; for it is doubtful if you will ever see her again.... Nevertheless, Joyzelle, chance may bring you again in this man's presence. In that case, fly from him; your life and his depend most strictly on your prompt flight. If I learn that you have seen each other, you are irrevocably lost.... (To Lancéor.) Do you promise to fly from her?

Lancéor.

If her life is at stake, yes.

Merlin.

And you, Joyzelle?

Joyzelle.

No.

ACT II

A wild, neglected garden, full of weeds and brambles. On the right, a very high and gloomy wall, pierced by a railed gate.

[Joyzelle is discovered in the garden, alone.

Joyzelle.

This is the garden which no one visits. The sun does not enter here; the poor wild flowers upon which men wage war because they are not beautiful here await death; and the birds are silent. Here are the violet, which has lost its perfume, the trembling, shrinking buttercup and the scarlet poppy, which sheds its petals without ceasing.... Here are the scabious begging for a little water, the deadly spurge hiding its green blossoms, the blue campanula silently shaking its useless bells.... I know you all, you humble and despised flowers, so good and so ugly!... You could be beautiful; it needs scarce anything: a ray of happiness, a minute's grace, a bolder smile to attract the bee.... But no eye sees you, no hand sows you, no hand gathers you; and I have come among you to be also alone.... How gloomy everything looks!... The grass is neglected and parched, the leaves are sick, the old trees dying; and spring itself and the dew of dawn are afraid lest they should grow sorrowful in this solitude....

[Lancéor appears behind the railed gate.

Lancéor.

Joyzelle!...

Joyzelle.

Lancéor!...

Lancéor.

Joyzelle!...

Joyzelle.

Go away!... Go away!... Take care!... It is death if he sees you!...

Lancéor.

He will not see us; he is very far from here.

Joyzelle.

Where is he?...

Lancéor.

I saw him go away. I watched his departure from the top of that tower in which I am a prisoner.... He is at the other end of the island, near the blue forest that shuts in the horizon....

Joyzelle.

But he may return; or some one will tell him.... Go away, go away, I say!... Your life is at stake!...

Lancéor.

The palace is deserted; I have gone through the rooms, the gardens and the courts, the long box hedges, the marble staircases....

Joyzelle.

Go away, it is only a trap.... He has a design upon your life; I know it, he said so.... He suspects that I love you.... He is only seeking an excuse for what he would like to do.... Go away!... As it is, you have done too much....

Lancéor.

No.

Joyzelle.

If you do not go away, then I shall go.

Lancéor.

If you go, Joyzelle, I shall remain at this gate until night brings him back to the palace.... He will find me on this forbidden threshold.... I have passed the limits assigned to me; I have therefore disobeyed him and I wish him to see it and I wish him to know it!...

Joyzelle.

Lancéor, have pity! I entreat you, Lancéor!... You are risking all our happiness!... Do not think only of yourself!... I will go where you please, if you will leave this gate!... We shall see each other elsewhere, later, another day.... We must choose the time, we must take care, we must make our preparations.... See, I am stretching out my arms to you ... what would you have me do?... What must I promise you?...

Lancéor.

Open the gate.

Joyzelle.

No, no, no, I cannot....

Lancéor.

Open, open, Joyzelle, if you would have me live....

Joyzelle.

Why do you wish me to open?...

Lancéor.

I want to see you closer, I want to touch your hands which I have not yet touched, to look at you once more as I looked at you on the first day.... Open, or I am determined to be undone; I shall not go away....

Joyzelle.

Will you go away then?...

Lancéor.

I promise you, Joyzelle.... As soon as you open the gate, before a swallow, before a thought has time to hasten from wherever it may be to surprise my hand as it touches yours.... I beseech you, Joyzelle: this is too cruel.... I am standing at this gate like a blind beggar.... I can see only your shadow moving among the leaves.... These bars are hateful and hide your face.... One look alone, Joyzelle, in which I shall see you wholly; and then I will go like a robber flying with a great treasure dragging noisily behind him.... No one will know and we shall be