_The same._ TWO SPIES, _their hands tied, each one held by
two guards. They are thrown on to their knees at the foot
of the throne._
WINGED PRINCE
Who are you?
FIRST SPY
Faithful servants of the dynasty of the Tsing.
WINGED PRINCE
Where do you come from?
SECOND SPY
From the only capital of our great and pure Empire.
WINGED PRINCE
Your crime is flagrant and needs no further proof, what
have you to say?
FIRST SPY
Nothing.
SECOND SPY
Yes! We wished to kidnap the child, to hold him as a
hostage and thus to have you at our mercy. We have nothing
further to say. Our lips are sealed.
WINGED PRINCE
Name your accomplices.
SECOND SPY
We shall say nothing.
WINGED PRINCE
Ha! ha! We have made others speak. [_To the_ EMPRESS] The
torture at once, is it not?
EMPRESS
Torture, no! Death, instant death.
FAITHFUL PRINCE [_To the_ EMPRESS]
I venture to suggest to your Majesty that it might be
better perhaps to imprison these men in a dungeon. We do
not know who they are, nor of how great importance in the
eyes of the enemy. What secrets might we not indeed extract
from these two!----
EMPRESS
What! After what they have done, you would have them see
the light of another day?----remember that they have
dared to lay a hand on the sacred person of him in whom
lives all our hope; they have bruised his neck, frail as a
stem of a flower. To kidnap him as hostage, they said! How
do I know that they did not rather mean to kill my child.
ALL
Death! Death!
EMPRESS
Yes, death! And have them thrown to the beasts that eat
dead bodies. Their graves will be the maws of crows and
dogs. At once!
[_The_ FAITHFUL PRINCE _gives a signal, and the
condemned prisoners are lifted to their feet._]
FIRST SPY
We have risked our lives. We have lost and we accept death.
SECOND SPY
We shall be soon avenged by the great army which is
marching against you. To-morrow it will be before your
walls.
ALL
Death! Death!
[_The condemned men are led away._]