mistress in the folds of the valley. But he will
not find her.

OZIAS (_perturbed_). How knowst thou that he will not find her?

HAGGITH. Because the Lord of Israel is a sharp sword and protecteth his
servants.... And also because my mistress is most cunningly hidden.

_Enter_ Charmis, _L_.

CHARMIS (_joyously excited_). What is the miracle that I hear, Ozias?

OZIAS (_blandly_). There is no miracle; but that which I had planned
with the lady Judith has come to pass. Take women and old men Charmis,
and go ye to the wells and bring water to the city, for the wells are
delivered into my hands.

CHARMIS (_hesitating_). Women and old men? But the onslaught against the
Assyrians of which I hear?

OZIAS (_imperiously_). Go quickly. For who is the governor of this city?
Is it thou or is it I?

(_Exit_ Charmis, _L_.)

(_Men and women have gathered joyously in the street_.)

VOICES (_mockingly, indicating_ Ingur, _with a tendency to horseplay_).
The Assyrian! The Assyrian!

OZIAS. Take him to the guard-house and chain him to Achior.

HAGGITH. He shall not go, lord Ozias. For as my mistress beguiled
Holofernes, so did I beguile Ingur, and he is my slave. But I have not
cut off his head, and he is dear to me because I have not cut off his
head. And he is mine, and let none touch him (_looking at the
soldiers_), or my anger, which is the anger of the lady Judith, shall be
upon that man. (_Hearing a noise, she glances at the house_.) What do I
see? The sluts are in the tent of my mistress, which is forbidden them.
Out, sluts! (_Exit angrily into the house_!)

(Ingur _follows her quickly for protection_.)

_Enter_ Messenger.

OZIAS. And you?

MESSENGER (_saluting_). Do my eyes behold the great lord Ozias,
governor of Bethulia?

OZIAS. Your eyes behold him.

MESSENGER. It is not yet dawn, nevertheless the streets of the city are
full of a great going and coming, but I found none to lead me to the
house of the lord Ozias. Yet when I saw my lord's visage my heart said:
'This is he.'

OZIAS. What is your affair with me?

MESSENGER. I am a messenger.

OZIAS (_curtly_). Speak quickly, for the government of this city in this
hour is no common matter, and the whole charge of it lies upon me.

MESSENGER. And I am no common messenger. I come with wings through the
night from Jerusalem, from Joachim, the high priest.

OZIAS. Ah! (_Changing his tone and beckoning the messenger aside_.) What
tidings do you bear?