PELLEAS.

Come, come, we will come back another day;... come, it is time. They
will come to meet us. It was striking noon at the moment the ring
fell.

MELISANDE.

What shall we say to Golaud if he ask where it is?

PELLEAS.

The truth, the truth, the truth.... [_Exeunt._

SCENE II.--_An apartment in the castle._ GOLAUD _discovered, stretched
upon his bed;_ MELISANDE, _by his bedside_.

GOLAUD.

Ah! ah! all goes well; it will amount to nothing. But I cannot
understand how it came to pass. I was hunting quietly in the forest.
All at once my horse ran away, without cause. Did he see anything
unusual?... I had just heard the twelve strokes of noon. At the
twelfth stroke he suddenly took fright and ran like a blind madman
against a tree. I heard no more. I do not yet know what happened. I
fell, and he must have fallen on me. I thought I had the whole forest
on my breast; I thought my heart was crushed. But my heart is sound.
It is nothing, apparently....

MELISANDE.

Would you like a little water?

GOLAUD.

Thanks, thanks; I am not thirsty.

MELISANDE.

Would you like another pillow?... There is a little spot of blood on
this.

GOLAUD.

No, no; it is not worth while. I bled at the mouth just now. I shall
bleed again perhaps....

MELISANDE.

Are you quite sure?... You are not suffering too much?

GOLAUD.

No, no; I have seen a good many more like this. I was made of iron
and blood.... These are not the little bones of a child; do not alarm
yourself....

MELISANDE.

Close your eyes and try to sleep. I shall stay here all night....

GOLAUD.

No, no; I do not wish you to tire yourself so. I do not need anything;
I shall sleep like a child.... What is the matter, Melisande? Why do
you weep all at once?...

MELISANDE _(bursting into tears)._

I am ... I am ill too....

GOLAUD.

Thou art ill?... What ails thee, then; what ails thee, Melisande?...

MELISANDE.

I do not know.... I am ill here.... I had rather tell you to-day; my
lord, my lord, I am not happy here....

GOLAUD.

Why, what has happened, Melisande? What is it?... And I suspecting
nothing.... What has happened?... Some one has done thee harm?... Some
one has given thee offence?

MELISANDE.

No, no; no one has done me the least harm.... It is not that.... It
is not that.... But I can live here no longer. I do not know why.... I
would go away, go away!... I shall die if I am left