GOLAUD.

You must not take it ill of him.  He has always been so.  He is a little strange.  And just now he is sad; he thinks of his friend Marcellus, who is at the point of death, and whom he cannot go to see....  He will change, he will change, you will see; he is young....

MELISANDE.

But it is not that ... it is not that....

GOLAUD.

What is it, then?—­Can you not get used to the life one leads here?  Is it too gloomy here?—­It is true the castle is very old and very sombre....  It is very cold, and very deep.  And all those who dwell in it, are already old.  And the country may seem gloomy too, with all its forests, all its old forests without light.  But that may all be enlivened if we will.  And then, joy, joy, one does not have it every day; we must take things as they come.  But tell me something; no matter what; I will do everything you could wish....

MELISANDE.

Yes, yes; it is true....  You never see the sky here.  I saw it for the first time this morning....

GOLAUD.

It is that, then, that makes you weep, my poor Melisande?—­It is only that, then?—­You weep, not to see the sky?—­Come, come, you are no longer at the age when one may weep for such things....  And then, is not the summer yonder?  You will see the sky every day.—­And then, next year....  Come, give me your hand; give me both your little hands. [He takes her hands.] Oh! oh! these little hands that I could crush like flowers....—­Hold! where is the ring I gave you?

MELISANDE.

The ring?

GOLAUD.

Yes; our wedding-ring, where is it?

MELISANDE.

I think....  I think it has fallen....

GOLAUD.

Fallen?—­Where has it fallen?—­You have not lost it?

MELISANDE.

No, no; it fell ... it must have fallen....  But I know where it is....

GOLAUD.

Where is it?

MELISANDE.

You know ... you know well ... the grotto by the seashore?...

GOLAUD.

Yes.

MELISANDE.

Well then, it is there....  It must be it is there....  Yes, yes; I remember....  I went there this morning to pick up shells for little Yniold....  There were some very fine ones....  It slipped from my finger ... then the sea came in; and I had to go out before I had found it.

GOLAUD.

Are you sure it is there?

MELISANDE.

Yes, yes; quite sure....  I felt it slip ... then, all at once, the noise of the waves....

GOLAUD.

You must go look for it at once.

MELISANDE.

I must go look for it at once?

GOLAUD.

Yes.

MELISANDE.

Now?—­at once?—­in the dark?

GOLAUD.

Now, at once, in the dark.  You must go look for it at once.  I had rather have lost all I have than have lost that ring.  You do not know what it is.  You do not know whence it came.  The sea will be very high to-night.  The sea will come to take it before you....  Make haste.  You must go look for it at once....