Chapter LVIII: Act II: An inner chamber in Executioner's House. Door leading to Hareem

[This is the same hall as at the end of Act I, only that curtains
are drawn to hide the courtyard.]

_Hajji. Executioner and Scribe seated on a platform
Executioner. drinking coffee and smoking.
Scribe._ Hajji seated below them entertaining them
[Coffee and smoking with amorous stories.
suppressed, as both They are all laughing.
were found to be Hajji finishes a story.
anachronisms.] Executioner says it reminds him of his
principal wife.

[This altered. Eastern A slight pause.
men do not speak of The Executioner gives Scribe a look as if to
their wives to say "To business."
strangers.] He says to Hajji--
How would Hajji like to become a great power
in the state?
He broaches plan of assassinating the Sultan.
Hajji hesitates.
Executioner unfolds scheme.
There is an audience in half an hour.
Hajji can come as a Fakir.
[See play. All of this Has told Executioner he could juggle--power in
scene was split in half, play tricks at his corner when begging.
and Mansur does not now
suggest the Hajji could get close to Sultan and kill him.
assassination till at No danger to Hajji.
the end of the second As the Guards are under command of
half. The reason is Executioner.
clear: Hajj could not Executioner will be there.
have a love scene (as But, of course, Hajji must under no condition
he does now) if he recognize the Executioner.
were brooding about Hajji feels doubts.
the assassination. Executioner fills him full of promises.
This was altered in Executioner will be made Sultan.
rehearsal at Hajji shall become Executioner.
thesuggestion of Mr. Executioner off to put on his armour for
Grimwood, who played audience.
Mansur in England.] Scribe goes with him.
Executioner: "Think it over. If you don't like
it--there is always room for a strangled body
in the river."

[_Hajji (Alone)._] "So this is why I was pardoned this morning?
Oh, Hajji! What a fool you are!
And you thought your personal charm did it
all."

_Hajji. Door of Hareem opens. Old Woman
Old Woman No II._ No. II appears with a note, gives it to Hajji.
[Changed to young Hajji reads it, smiles and nods.
slave Miskah. The Old Woman disappears.
note becomes a
message, with
dialogue between Hajj
and Miskah]

_Hajji (Alone)._ "After all I cannot be so utterly without
charm, if _this_ can happen to me."
He twirls his moustaches up and looks at
himself in the blade of his sword.

_Old Woman No. II reenters with veiled woman (Executioner's Wife).
Old Woman stands guard._

_Hajji. The Wife has seen him from her window.
Wife._ As he crossed the courtyard at noon, she lost
her heart to him.
Her husband neglects her.
She comes to Hajji for sympathy.
Hajji makes love to her.
She refuses to unveil,--at least, at once.
She makes appointment with him.
To meet him in the Executioner's Bath at
moonrise.
All the women bathe then.
She will leave a little screen unlatched that
leads to the furnaces under the baths.
These furnaces reached also from men's
quarters through the door in the Court.
(She points it out to him.)
He can come and see her there in Bath, when
the other women are back in the Hareem.
The Executioner never returns from the
Sultan till after supper.
They hear a noise.
She withdraws.
_Hajji struts about in great glee._
He hears Executioner coming
He throws himself on his knees and prays.

_Executioner. Executioner returns armed.
Hajji. What has Hajji decided?
Scribe._ Hajji says he has been wrestling in prayer.
He cannot make up his mind to kill Sultan, a
descendant of the Prophet.
Executioner says he also is a descendant of
Prophet.
Hajji is accused of cowardice.
He denies it.
He says he has ties that bind him.
The risk is too great because of his daughter,
his daughter, Zira.
He tells about her.
Finally he consents to kill Sultan on one
condition.
No matter what happens to him the
Executioner must marry the daughter.
The Executioner consents.
Hajji is overjoyed.
He quite forgets his own danger when he thinks
his daughter will be the Sultana.
He will hurry off to his daughter's house,
And have her conveyed to Executioner's house
after sun-down.
Too beautiful to pass through the streets at
day time.
Begs for a guard to convey her.
Once he has arranged with her he will come on
to young Sultan's palace,--
"The Sultan who will be dead. Who _is_ dead!"
He hurries off in great exultation.

[When the play was
written, the
mid-afternoon call to
prayer was introduced
here as a Curtain.] _Curtain_

SCENE 2

_Zira's home. Same scene as Scene 3, Act I. Small courtyard.
Zira sits with her guitar singing a love song._

_Zira. / Zira tries to get the Old Woman to go out
Old Woman._ | that night.
[Cut when play was < Old woman suspicious
written.] | Zira calms her fears
\ Coaxes her, pets her

_Hajji arrives_.

_Hajji. Hajji has come to break news to Zira.
Zira. Great news!
Old Woman._ He is going to give her to Executioner as
wife.
Zira dumb with horror.
Violent scene of cursing and cajoling.
Finally she rebels.
The Old Woman agrees with Hajji whenever he
appeals to her.
He finally calls in the Guard, and makes
them guard door.

[Altered during At sundown they are to take the girl to
rehearsal. Executioner's house.
The guard,--eunuchs Ungrateful child!
of Mansur--take the Zira in tears. Hajji off.
daughter away at once.
Hajji remains on the
scene, smiling in a
self-satisfied
fashion.] _Curtain_

SCENE 3

_The Sultan's Audience Hall (The Caliph's Diwan). (Large set.)
Sultan seated on a Divan.
His Vizier by his side.
Dances of Women.
Sultan melancholy. He says to Vizier that all these dances are nothing
to the faded rose in his hand.
Hour for audience strikes.
The women dismissed.
The gates are opened to the crowd.
The various dignitaries enter.
The Executioner and the Guard come and kneel to the Sultan.
Different cases for trial called.
First of all the old Sheikh is called.
His whereabouts have been ascertained through the Guide.
The Sheikh is carried in on his litter and with greatest difficulty
descends to do obeisance to the Sultan._

_Sultan. Sultan asks him how he, an exile, dare enter
Sheikh. the city, defying the decree of his late
Executioner. uncle.
Crowd, etc._ Sheikh says he came on peaceful mission, not
to rob.
He is old; one of many robbers. No longer of
consequence.
Came to pray at shrine and give alms, the
shrine where he had prayed in his youth.
Invokes protection of High Priest.
Sultan says Sheikh must be imprisoned.
If High Priest proves that Sheikh came to
give alms and to repent, he shall be released
forthwith.
Meanwhile, for his many sins, a short
repentance in prison will not be harmful to
his soul.

_The Goaler comes forward and with two guards drags the lame man off.
The Sheikh goes, blessing the Sultan for his wisdom and justice.
The Sultan says: "Send to the High Priest at once to see if this
old man spoke true."_

_Sultan. This should be some comic trial with a
A Peasant with Two difficult question to solve, Such as: "Should
Wives._ a man honour his first wife more--who is old
[This scene was cut at and ugly, but devoted--or his second wife
rehearsal, as having whom he mistrusts but adores for her beauty?"
nothing to do with the Or something of the kind drawn from Arabian
story. Instead of Nights.
which, Hajj was
introduced by a speech
of Mansur's. See play.]

The Sultan is puzzled
He has no answer.
Who can solve the riddle?

_Hajji, pushing through the crowd,--"Let me, oh Sire!"--throws
himself before Sultan._

_Hajji. Hajji decides in a witty, whimsical way.
Sultan. The Sultan amused by him. Who is he?
Others_ Hajji says he is a Fakir.
He plays some tricks.
/ While doing one, addresses the Executioner
| as a slave, asking him to bring a table.
[Cut:] < Pretends not to know who Executioner is,
| and begs his pardon when he is told of his
\ rank.
He then gets near the Sultan.
Does a trick with a sword.
Tries suddenly to stab the Sultan.
The Sultan wears a coat of mail.
The assassination has failed.
Hajji is surrounded at once.
He is to be cut to pieces.
The Sultan says "Stay!
This man shall be made an example of.
I have heard there are rumours of sedition,
and conspiracies against my person.
Therefore I wear this coat of mail.
I shall have this man burnt in my pleasure
gardens tomorrow and the public shall be
admitted to the spectacle.
This shall show conspirators I am in earnest;
mean to uphold my uncle's policy.
Take this man away."
Hajji appeals, he turns to the Executioner.
The Executioner says he does not know him.
Hajji says he does.
He can prove it. He was in the house of the
Executioner. In his pay.
Executioner: "The man is mad."
The Sultan fixes Executioner with his eye.
Sultan says he will sift matter to bottom.
Hajji shall be tortured.
The truth shall be wrung from him.
[Hajj is gagged here:] "At once?" asks the Gaoler.
Sultan: "No--let him starve the night first."
Tonight (_smelling the rose_) Sultan has other
affairs of import to tend to.
Tomorrow (_with a meaning look_) he expects
the Executioner to carry out the tortures
himself.
The Executioner bows.
(_To Goaler_) "Take the man away!"
Hajji is dragged off, screaming.
The Sultan to his Vizier: "Oh Mesrur!
Mesrur! (Abu Bakr) When does the sun set?"
"Another half an hour, sire."
"Half an hour! Oh, would it were that now?
Why can I not make the sun set--I--the Sultan?
Bring forward the next case."

_Curtain._

SCENE 4

_A Dungeon. A massive door at the back leads to an endless flight
of shallow steps. It is dark: Hardly any light except from one barred
window high up: through this come the rays of the setting sun._

_The Sheikh is alone in one corner saying his prayers. He then lies
down and goes to sleep._

_The Gaoler opens the door._

_Hajji is thrown in and chained._

_Hajji alone._ Repentance.
Curses every one.
Raves.
If only he hadn't received money that morning,
he would not have been tempted to steal.
If he had not stolen, he would not have been
taken to the Executioner.
If he hadn't been taken to the Executioner, he
would not have been driven to kill the Sultan.
The Sheikh is the cause of all his misfortunes.
He stole his wife.
He killed his son.
Now he is killing him.
Cursed be the Sheikh!

_The Sheikh from the "Who uses my name in vain?"
corner:_

_Hajji. Hajji recognizes him
Sheikh._ What is he doing there?
Sheikh says he is condemned to prison by
Sultan.
Hajji delighted.
Says this is his only consolation in his
trouble.
Never a sorrow without a grain of joy.
Joy to see his enemy suffer.
He could almost feel friendly towards
Sheikh, when he thinks how they will be
executed together.

[Sheikh's story of the How strangely their lives have been
broken coin and his interwoven.
lost son introduced They talk of the dead woman they have shared.
here. See play.

Allusions to wife were She is dead now.
cut as unnecessary to Better so. She would have been old and ugly
the story.] now.
Sheikh says: "She developed a bad temper."
Hajji furiously: "That was your fault.
She was the sweetest tempered creature when
she was mine. You ruined her, body and soul.
You fiend you--but no matter. You will be
tortured tomorrow."
He shrieks with delight.

_Gaoler reenters with a decree and a soldier carrying some
instruments of torture_.

_Gaoler. Gaoler says that it has been found that
Sheikh. Sheikh did come on a pilgrimage.
Hajji. The High Priest has testified in his favor.
Soldier._ Therefore the Sultan forgives him.
He is free, but must leave the city at once
and never return.
Sheikh asks Gaoler to thank Sultan. Would go--
but his limbs are too weak.
Could Gaoler send for his litter?
Gaoler says he fears Sheikh's litter gone,
but could procure him a chair out of Sultan's
palace used to convey the lesser women of the
[Changed to a stretcher Hareem when Sultan travels.
to "carry away the
dead." Alteration made Sheikh gives Gaoler money,
when play was written.] Gaoler now turns to Hajji.
Says he is to come to him.
Makes him kneel down.
Hajji: "I am free too, am I?"
Gaoler: "Free? Here! (_turns to Soldier and
[The torture was cut takes a casket from him and is about to put
as too long and too it on Hajji's head_). Sometimes these head
ugly. Altered during screws and thumb screws don't fit. There
rehearsal.] must be no hitch in the performance tomorrow."
"Head screw?" says Hajji, trembling.
Gaoler tears off Hajji's turban and tries on
the torture helmet.
Gaoler: "Does it feel comfortable?"
[All this cut. Instead Hajji: "Comfortable!"
of which, the Gaoler Gaoler: "It ought to. It's just as if it had
strikes Hajji with his been made for your Highness."
key which makes Hajji (Takes it off, laughing loudly; the soldier
faint.] joins politely.)
Gaoler (to Sheikh): "I'll see to your
Excellency's chair."
Gaoler and Soldier off with instruments.
_Hajji is on the floor, more dead than alive._

_Hajji. Hajji bemoans his fate.
Sheikh._ Why should he have to suffer, and
Sheikh be pardoned, when Sheikh is the cause
of all of Hajji's woe?
Here is Sheikh, an old robber chief, forgiven.
Here is Hajji, a simple, honest beggar, to be
tortured and burnt.
Who is dependent on the Sheikh?
He has lost his son--has never found him
again--he may be dead.
No one dependent on Sheikh.
But Hajji has a daughter dependent on him.
A daughter! And the sun is setting.
And at this hour she is being taken to the
Executioner!
The Executioner who has so cruelly forsaken
Hajji.
His daughter going to him, with Hajji
powerless--and the Sheikh to live.
It is unjust, cruel, not to be borne.
"It shan't be borne--it--"

[When the play was] He gives the Sheikh an awful look.
written, the breaking The Sheikh realizes his thoughts and draws his
of the chains was knife.
introduced here.] Hajji springs at him, overpowers him, and cuts
his throat.
The Sheikh's last words: "My son! My son!"
A moment's thought--then Hajji wipes the knife
on his own turban (torn off by Gaoler).
Quickly he exchanges clothes with the dead man.
Puts on his turban
Then rifles pockets.
Finds round the dead man's throat a chain with
the broken half of a coin.
Slips it over his own neck.
He puts the dead body into the corner where he
(Hajji) lay when the Gaoler left the dungeon.
He hears the tread on the steps.
He assumes the old man's attitude.
The sunlight has died out: the scene grows
quite dark.

_The Gaoler reenters with the Soldier and a chair borne by two
porters. They lift Hajji into the chair. Then take up the chair
and carry it up the broad stone stairs._

_Gaoler. (Turning to the dead body.) "Why not laugh tonight, Hajji?
Tomorrow morning will be time enough to weep, when you are tortured in
the Pleasure Gardens of the Prophet's descendant." (He kicks the body,
then goes out laughing, and locks the door.)_

_Curtain._