[Hafiz raises the flute again to his lips.]

SHEIK

Hear, O Bishareens!

[He plays the brief tune again.]

Hafiz [to sheik]

Like that.

SHEIK

We have heard, O master.

[He walks away L. Hands move in the direction of knife-hilts.]

THE BISHAREENS

Ah, ah!

[Exit Hafiz.

He plays a merry little tune on his
flute as he walks away.]

Curtain

SCENE 3

The banqueting hall.  A table along the back.  John and Miralda seated with notables of Al Shaldomir.

John sits in the centre, with Miralda on his right and, next to her, Hafiz el Alcolahn.

Miralda [to John]

You bade Daoud be present?

JOHN

Yes.

MIRALDA

He is not here.

JOHN

Daoud not here?

MIRALDA

No.

JOHN

Why?

MIRALDA

We all obey you, but not Daoud.

JOHN

I do not understand it.

A NOTABLE

The Shereef has frowned.

[Enter R. an officer-at-arms. He halts at once and salutes with his sword, then takes a side pace to his left, standing against the wall, sword at the carry.

John acknowledges salute by touching his forehead with the inner tips of his fingers.]

OFFICER-AT-ARMS

Soldiers of Al Shaldomir; with the dance-step; march.

[Enter R. some men in single file; uniform, pale green silks; swords at carry.  They advance in single file, in a slightly serpentine way, deviating to their left a little out of the straight and returning to it, stepping neatly on the tips of their toes.  Their march is fantastic and odd without being exactly funny.

The officer-at-arms falls in on their left flank and marches about level with the third or fourth man.  When he reaches the centre he gives another word of command.]

OFFICER-AT-ARMS

With reverence:  Salute.

[The actor who takes this part should have been an officer or N. C. O.