You see, Alladine, my hands do not tremble, my heart beats like a sleeping child’s, and my voice has not once been stirred with wrath.  I bear no ill-will to Palomides, although what he has done might seem unpardonable.  And as for thee, who could bear thee ill-will?  You obey laws you do not know, and you could not act otherwise, I will not speak to you of what took place the other day along the palace moats, nor of all the unforeseen death of the lamb might have revealed to me, had I believed in omens for an instant.  But last night I surprised the kiss you gave each other under the windows of Astolaine.  At that moment I was with her in her room.  She has a soul that fears so much to trouble, with a tear or with a simple movement of her eyelids, the happiness of those about her, that I shall never know if she, as I, surprised that wretched kiss.  But I know what she has the power to suffer.  I shall not ask you anything you cannot avow to me, but I would know if you had any secret design in following Palomides under the window where you must have seen us.  Answer me without fear; you know beforehand I will pardon everything.

ALLADINE.

I did not kiss him.

ABLAMORE.

What?  You did not kiss Palomides, and Palomides did not kiss you?

ALLADINE.

No.

ABLAMORE.

Ah!...  Listen:  I came here to forgive you everything....  I thought you had acted as we almost all act, without aught of our soul intervening....  But now I will know all that passed....  You love Palomides, and you have kissed him under my eyes....

ALLADINE.

No.

ABLAMORE.

Don’t go away.  I am only an old man.  Do not flee....

ALLADINE.

I am not fleeing.

ABLAMORE.

Ah! ah!  You do not flee, because you think my old hands harmless!  They have yet the strength to tear a secret out in spite of all [He seizes her arms.] And they could wrestle with all those you prefer.... [He twists her arms behind her head.] Ah! you will not speak!...  There will yet come a time when all your soul shall spirt out like a clear spring, for woe....

ALLADINE.

No, no!

ABLAMORE.

Again,... we are not at the end, the journey is very long—­and naked truth is hid among the rocks....  Will she come forth?...  I see her gestures in your eyes already, and her cool breath will lave my visage soon....  Ah!...  Alladine!  Alladine!...[He releases her suddenly.] I heard your bones cry out like little children....  I have not hurt you?...  Do not stay thus, upon your knees before me,...  It is I who go down on my knees. [He does as he says] I am a wretch....  You must have pity....  It is not for myself alone I pray....  I have only one poor daughter....  All the rest are dead....  I had seven of them about me....  They were fair and full of happiness; and I saw them no more....  The only one left to me is going to die, too....  She did not love life....  But one day she encountered something she no longer looked for, and I saw she had lost the desire to die....  I do not ask a thing impossible.... [ALLADINE weeps and makes no answer.]