BARAK, then SKIRINA.
BARAK.
(_Sees_ SKIRINA _coming from the Palace_.)
Who's there? Skirina? What! And in such haste?
Whence come you? Whither are you going?
SKIRINA.
Why,
For sheer delight because the unknown Prince
Had won the game; a little, too, because
I itched to hear how the proud tigress took it,
I ran to see Zelima in the harem.
BARAK.
Incautious woman! What is this you say?
I see. I hear you boasting: "Yes, just fancy,
The strange Prince spoke to us; my husband knows him...."
Is it not as I say?
SKIRINA.
Well, if it is,
What harm is there?
BARAK.
Confess it! You have told!
SKIRINA.
Well, yes! She asked me straightway for his name,
And, to be frank, I promised her...
BARAK (_angrily_).
Damnation!
The cat's out of the bag. Insensate woman!
Come hence! Away out of the town!
(TRUFFALDINO _appears with his eunuchs in
the background._)
Too late!
There come the eunuchs.
(_To_ SKIRINA.)
Fool of a woman, go!
Go home and hide thy folly!
(_To the eunuchs._)
Here I am!