ZORAYA. You betrayed me for her?
ENRIQUE. It is she whom I have betrayed for you!--I have known you
only three months. She and I were betrothed years ago!--But I was so
sure she would take the veil and remain in the convent. After this
marriage was arranged contrary to her wish and my own, I found so
many pretexts for postponing it that further delay would have roused
suspicion. They would have searched for the reason and found it,
perhaps. Then!--then, during the last two days when I did not see
you, I resolved to confess all to you.--This morning I attempted to
tell you--But I saw you so roused over a single thought of another
woman that I did not have the courage to cause a scene and withstand
your reproaches, which would have been needless, as I could not let
your tears cause me to forget my solemn obligations as a Christian,
my word as a gentleman and my most sacred duties.
ZORAYA. Yes! All of your duties are sacred except those towards
me!--and you hope, do you not, that I have considered them as
fulfilled?
ENRIQUE. Yes!
ZORAYA. That I shall receive your return to me with open arms?
ENRIQUE. That you will pardon me, at least, and join me in returning
faithfully to our love.
ZORAYA. Oh, indeed!--More in love than ever! The contrast of the Moor
and the Spaniard! A variety of pleasures always prevents one's taste
from becoming stale!
ENRIQUE. (Seating himself near her) But I do not love this child!--I
do not love her!
ZORAYA. (Rising, going to the left) Yes, this is the cry of the
brutal, egotistical male!--You do not love her!--But it is to her
that you sacrifice me.--You do not love her, but I stop you on the
threshold of her room!--A few paces from her bed!--I should scorn
myself as a woman of the street if I could discover in my mind a
single thought which is not for you!--I should curse my eyes if they
gazed for an instant on any other face but yours!--Where could I
wash away the stain if any other lips than yours touched mine?--And
it appears natural for you to be at the same time the husband of your
wife and the lover of your mistress--to run from one to the other and
to bring to me smiling the dessert of your nuptial night!--And it is
you who say to me: "Believe nothing, nothing in the world but my love
for you!" Ah, coward!--coward! liar!--Here is your love!--Here it is!
ENRIQUE. (Standing) My dear Zoraya!
ZORAYA. (Quickly, restraining her tears) Oh, leave me! Wretch! Leave
me! I hate you!
[She leans sobbing against a pillar at the left.]
ENRIQUE. Lower! Speak lower!--I beg of you!--If they should hear us!
ZORAYA. Oh! If only they would hear!--Let them come! and let them
kill me!--It is all the same to me if it happens now!
[They hear the night watchman's halbert striking the pavement stones.]
ENRIQUE. (Frightened and pointing to the street) Be quiet!--There is
some one there!