gradually way to some sinister
thought which makes her gaze fixedly at the mountebank with
parted lips. Her unswerving glance at length draws his eyes
towards her and for one single instant their glances seem to pass
through one another--the exquisite duchess, the grotesque clown.
No one has seen the look, save PHEDRO, who wipes his lips with an
expression of intense amusement. Suddenly from behind GWYMPLANE
steps DEA, and he returns with an almost imperceptible start to
his act. Seeing this lovely apparition, he throws himself at her
feet, and she, apparently perceiving him, does not repel him but
puts her slim hands in his wild hair, and they go through some
tender motions to an exquisite melody upon the flute. Gradually
with gestures of pity and love she invites him to go with her,
and he hardly believing is about to be led away, when suddenly
the oriental melody begins again. The dancer appears. She glances
at GWYMPLANE with the hypnotized fascination of utter horror. DEA
attempts drawing GWYMPLANE away, but he resists, becoming again a
victim to the old charm. The slave girl, with a wild gesture,
offers herself to him. Simultaneously, DEA motions him with
prayer to go with her. He makes some pitiful indecisive motions
between them. DEA wrings her hands; the slave girl smiles; when,
with a sudden gesture of despair, GWYMPLANE takes out his knife
and makes a motion of cutting out his heart, then sinks upon the
ground, and suddenly holds up his heart dripping with blood in
his two pale hands. The slave girl tries to snatch it, but he
gives it to DEA, who presses it against her own. GWYMPLANE
breathes his last, and the slave, falling at the feet of DEA,
licks the blood from the heart of her dancer off the floor._

_Miniature curtain descends to some strange music recalling the
chimes of a clock._]

QUEEN

What an extraordinary pantomime! I think these mummers act too well.
They will leave a memory, and I have far too many memories already.

JOSEPHINE

[_Trying to conceal the impression the play has made on her._]

I shall never have any memories. When the door closes I shall forget.

PRINCE

Perhaps you are not so agile as you think. Something of you may catch
in the door when it slams, and go on aching forever.

QUEEN [_tolerantly_]

Inexperience can always