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JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN

Wakara. I bare the message faithfully; but he answered he must guard the house, and could not come.

Zuleika. [Darkly] He must guard the house—! [With a wild laugh] And the night flieth! Oh gods, how swiftly it flieth!—— He must come! He must come!—Go again——

Wakara. Alas! What more can I say?

Zuleika [Haughtily] Say I command my slave!

Wakara. I said so, and he answered that he was not thy slave, but Potiphar's.

Zuleika. He dared—! My lord shall hear of this!—Ha! Ha! Ha! What am I saying—? [Suddenly, with ferocity] Was he alone?

Wakara. When I spoke with him, ay—but——

Zuleika [Eagerly] But what—?

Wakara. I had seen the trail of a woman's robe——

Zuleika. Was it one of my women?

Wakara. I know not.

Zuleika. Summon them all. Suddenly! Suddenly!

[Wakar hurries to the door R. and cries]

Wakara. Wake! Wake! Zuleika calls!

Zuleika. What else didst thou see?

Wakara. I saw Ranofer and Serseru slip out of the garden.

Zuleika. Were they with Joseph?

Wakara. No. They saw him not. They were deep in their plot. Where he stood he must have heard every word.

Zuleika. The plot against the Pharaoh? Ha! Now I hold him!

[Enter the six Maidens huddling through the doorway. They are half awake and frightened to death]

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