Turandot, Princess of China Part 18

TARTAGLIA.

(_To_ BARAK.) A lot more good, believe me!

You have, if I may say so, a rascal's face; and I can tell you I don't like it.

(_Exit._)

BRIGELLA.

Permit me, your Royal Highness, to execute my commission. Have the goodness to follow me to your apartments!

CALAF.

I am coming.

(_To_ BARAK.)

Friend, until we meet again, Some better time, farewell.

BARAK.

Your humble servant.

BRIGELLA.

Come along! Come along! No more fooling.

(_Exit at the head of his guards, who march in two lines, with_ CALAF _between them_.)

SCENE IV

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_).

d.a.m.nation!

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!

SCENE V