(The watcher disappears.)

JUDITH (cooingly) Does my lord shrink from his handmaid?

(Holofernes stretches his hands to her.)

CURTAIN.

SCENE III

SCENE:  The same.

TIME:  The same night.

Wine and food are set by the couch.

A lamp is burning.

BAGOAS (at back entrance to tent, calling to people off).  To your beds, all of you.  Let none remain. (He stands a moment at the entrance; a few distant shouts are heard; then silence.  Bagoas comes within the tent towards the couch.  To Holofernes.) The waiters are gone, Prince.  There is no one left to disturb the night.

HOLOFERNES.  Hast thou seen her?

BAGOAS (after a pause).  No, prince.

HOLOFERNES.  But didst thou look?

BAGOAS.  I looked, O illustrious.

HOLOFERNES.  Is there moonlight?

BAGOAS.  The moon is clouded, highness.

HOLOFERNES.  Give me wine. (Bagoas obeys.) Bagoas!

BAGOAS.  Prince?

(The hangings of the tent R., balloon inwards a little.)

HOLOFERNES (looking behind him sharply, spilling some wine).  The wind is rising.

BAGOAS.  It is but a night breeze.

HOLOFERNES (as he drinks gloomily).  Bagoas, she has escaped back to her own people.

BAGOAS (aside).  I would she had, the jade! (To Holofernes.) Prince, she cannot escape.  Every path from the valley is guarded.

HOLOFERNES.  What guard could restrain such a woman?

BAGOAS.  Ah!  Prince!  What guard could restrain her?

HOLOFERNES.  Dost thou echo me?

BAGOAS.  I humbly think the thought of his highness.

HOLOFERNES.  Do thy thinking outside.

(Bagoas bows and moves towards the entrance.  Judith is standing there.  The two look at each other for a moment.)

BAGOAS (with a gesture, indicating Judith).  Highness!

HOLOFERNES (Jumping up.  To Bagoas).  Begone to thy post!

(Judith glides in silently.  Bagoas goes out.  They pass by each other without a word or a salutation, but mutually scrutinizing.)

JUDITH.  The great feast of the captains is over?

HOLOFERNES.  The captains are departed, drunken with wine and their pride.  But thy feast and my feast is not begun. (Points to the repast.)

JUDITH (enigmatically.) I am here.

HOLOFERNES (ecstatic.) Art thou in truth here, or do my eyes behold that which is not?

JUDITH.  Did I not say that I should come in the night?

HOLOFERNES.  Yea, I trusted thee.  I trusted thee so much that at the feast of the captains I commanded that all my hosts shall attack Bethulia, with bow, and sling, and spear, at sunrise, and also I gave the word of Holofernes for a pledge that naught in the heavens or on the earth should resist the onset of the Assyrians; for some among them feared the word of Achior which they had heard.