Yolanda. Sir, no!.. She means
Not I shall wed him! (Winningly.) Only that you spare
To separate us with this horror; that
You trust me to dispel his love, to pall
And chill his passion from me. For I crave
Only one thing – innocence in his sight.
Believe! – believe!
Renier. I will – that you are mad.
Yet madder I, if to this murk my brain
Were blind.
Yolanda. As it will be! in deadlier dark,
If you attend me not!
And may have destiny you cannot know.
But you will heed?
For somewhere in you there is tenderness.
Once when you chafed in fever and I bore
White orange blossoms dewy to your pillow
You touched my hand gently, as might a father.
[Caresses his.
Once on the tower when alone at dusk
I sang – I know not why – of lost delights,
Of vanished roses that are e'er recalling
May to the world, you came and suddenly
Lifted my brow up silent to your kiss.
Ah, you remember; you will hear me?
Renier. No!
Though you are cunning. – Thus you wove the mesh
About Amaury – till he could not move
Beyond you.
Yolanda. For his sake I ask it.
Renier. For
No sake but to o'ersway him with your eyes
In secret, thus, and with
Your hair that he believes an aureole
Brought with you out of Heaven.
Berengere. Again – wrong.
Renier. So deem you and, my Berengere, I grieve,
Desiring much your peace.
Berengere. It grieves you not.
Renier. Then not! and half I fear – you hear? – it should not.
There's midnight in this thing and mystery.
Does she not love – Camarin?
Yolanda (trembling). Say no more.
Be all – all as you will.
Renier. That brings you low:
But brings to me no light – only again
The stumbling in suspicion.
Yolanda. It should not.
Renier (with a sudden gleam).
To-morrow then, unless Amaury runs