What do you say, Miss Clement?

JOHN BEAL

Yes, what do you feel we ought to do?

MIRALDA

Well, perhaps I ought to leave all that to you.

ARCHIE BEAL

O, no.

JOHN BEAL

No, it’s your money.  What do you think we really ought to do?

MIRALDA

Well, of course, I think you ought to kill Hussein.

[John Beal and Archie Beal look at each other a little startled.]

JOHN BEAL

But wouldn’t that—­wouldn’t that be—­murder?

MIRALDA

O, yes, according to the English law.

JOHN BEAL

I see; you mean—­you mean we’re not—­but we are English.

MIRALDA

I mean it wouldn’t be murder—­by your law, unless you made it so.

JOHN BEAL

By my law?

MIRALDA

Yes, if you can interfere with their religion like this, and none of them say a word, why—­you can make any laws you like.

JOHN BEAL

But Hussein is king here; he is Lord of the Pass, and that’s everything here.  I’m nobody.

MIRALDA

O, if you like to be nobody, of course that’s different.

ARCHIE BEAL

I think she means that if Hussein weren’t there there’d be only you.  Of course, I don’t know.  I’ve only just come.

JOHN BEAL

But we can’t kill Hussein!

[Miralda begins to cry.]

O Lord!  Good heavens!  Please, Miss Clement!  I’m awfully sorry if I’ve said anything you didn’t like.  I wouldn’t do that for worlds.  I’m awfully sorry.  It’s a beastly country, I know.  I’m really sorry you came.  I feel it’s all my fault.  I’m really awfully sorry. . .

MIRALDA

Never mind.  Never mind.  I was so helpless, and I asked you to help me.  I never ought to have done it.  I oughtn’t to have spoken to you at all in that train without being introduced; but I was so helpless.  And now, and now, I haven’t a penny in the world, and, O, I don’t know what to do.

ARCHIE BEAL

We’ll do anything for you, Miss Clement.