tiful,
Rebellion beseems you. But when age
Comes creeping on, and wooers stay away,
What will be yours beside too late regret?...
What would you lose now save a little pride,
The phantom of your fame?...

ADELMA.

(_Has slowly come nearer, and now interrupts her._)

They that are base
In birth may, it is true, so basely think
As thou, Zelima. How couldst thou conceive
The feelings of our noble mistress, when
After so many years with triumph crowned,
A stranger roving here from who knows where
Puts her to shame in public? How shouldst thou
Know anything of pride and pain and shame?
Thou didst not see the looks of mockery,
The slanted smile round every mouth. I saw it,
Saw it and shook with rage and shame for her.
I love her. And shall I stand and see her now,
Against the promptings of her heart and will,
Delivered up into a stranger's hands?

TURANDOT (_vehemently_).

Stop! Do not make me mad beyond control!

ZELIMA.

Delivered up? Is it so bad as that?

ADELMA.

Be silent, thou! Thou pretty little slave,
Thou hast no need to understand these things.
What matters it to thee if, heedlessly,
She pledged her word? And what shall come to pass
In the Divan to-morrow if in shame
She hold her tongue? I can already see
The mockery scarcely hid, the open scorn,
And the base wit, such wit as is the meed
Of a poor actress.

TURANDOT (_beside herself_).

Hold your tongue, Adelma!
Unless I know the names before to-morrow,
I shall have nothing save this dagger....

ADELMA.

Do not despair, Princess. By taking thought--
Or, if it must be so, by trickery--
We yet will find the names.

ZELIMA.

Oh, find the names,
Dear, wise Adelma....

TURANDOT.

I must know the names,
Adelma. His name, and his father's name.
How shall I find them out? Adelma, help me!

ADELMA.

One thing I know: to-day in the Divan
Himself betrayed it: in this city lives
_One_ man who knows his name and origin.
Now what behoves us is to ferret through
The town, and if we make no stint of gold
Haply we may discover what we seek.

TURANDOT.

Take anything--gold, gems--do what you will.

ZELIMA.

What can she do with gold or precious stones?
Whom shall she give them to, to purchase help?
And if the plan succeed, what will you do
If some one find your mesh of trickery?

ADELMA.

Who would betray the trick--if not Zelima?

ZELIMA (_flaring up_).

Shame on your venomous tongue! Princess, hear