[John touches his dagger, and looks like using it.

Thoothoobaba gives it.]

JOHN

Take back your gold.  Be silent about this.  You too.

[He throws gold to Bazzalol.]

Gold does not make you silent, but there is a thing that does.  What is that thing?  Speak.  What thing makes you silent?

BAZZALOL

O, great master, it is death.

JOHN

Death, eh?  And how will you die if you speak?  You know how you will die?

BAZZALOL

Yes, heaven-sent.

JOHN

Tell your comrade, then.

BAZZALOL

We shall be eaten, great master.

JOHN

You know by what?

BAZZALOL

Small things, great master, small things.  Oh-h-h-h.  Oh-h-h.

[THOOTHOOBABA’s knees scarcely hold him.]

JOHN

It is well.

Curtain

SCENE 2

A small street.  Al Shaldomir.

Time:  Next day.

[Enter L. the sheik of the Bishareens.

He goes to an old green door, pointed of course in the Arabic way.]

SHEIK OF THE BISHAREENS

Ho, Bishareens!

[The Bishareens run on.]

SHEIK

It is the place and the hour.

BISHAREENS

Ah, ah!

Sheik [to first BISHAREEN]

Watch.

[First BISHAREEN goes to right and watches up sunny street.]

FIRST BISHAREEN

He comes.

[Enter Hafiz el Alcolahn.  He goes straight up to the sheik and whispers.]

Sheik [turning]

Hear, O Bishareens.

[Hafiz places flute to his lips.]

A BISHAREEN

And the gold, master?

SHEIK

Silence!  It is the signal.

[Hafiz plays a weird, strange tune on his flute.]

HAFIZ

So.

SHEIK

Master, once more.