Is this indeed a man? AGMAR A man, a man, and until just now a hungry one. CURTAIN THE THIRD ACT _Same room._ _A few days have elapsed._ _Seven thrones shaped like mountain-crags stand along the back of the stage. On these the beggars are lounging. The Thief is absent._ MLAN Never had beggars such a time. OOGNO Ah, the fruits and tender lamb! THAHN The Woldery wine! SLAG It was better to see my master's wise devices than to have fruit and lamb and Woldery wine. MLAN Ah! When they spied on him to see if he would eat when they went away! OOGNO When they questioned him concerning the gods and Man! THAHN When they asked him why the gods permitted cancer! SLAG Ah, my wise master! MLAN How well his scheme has succeeded! OOGNO How far away is hunger! THAHN It is even like to one of last year's dreams, the trouble of a brief night long ago. OOGNO (_laughing_) Ho, ho, ho! To see them pray to us. AGMAR When we were beggars did we not speak as beggars? Did we not whine as they? Was not our mien beggarly? OOGNO We were the pride of our calling. AGMAR Then now that we are gods, let us be as gods, and not mock our worshippers. ULF I think that the gods _do_ mock their worshippers. AGMAR The gods have never mocked us. We are above all pinnacles that we have ever gazed at in dreams. ULF I think that when man is high then most of all are the gods wont to mock him. THIEF (_entering_) Master! I have been with those that know all and see all. I have been with the thieves, master. They know me for one of the craft, but they do not know me as being one of us. AGMAR Well, well! THIEF There is danger, master, there is great danger. AGMAR You mean that they suspect that we are men. THIEF That they have long done, master. I mean that they will know it. Then we are lost. AGMAR Then they do not know it. THIEF They do not know it yet, but they will know it, and we are lost. AGMAR When will they know it? THIEF Three days ago they suspected us. AGMAR More than you think suspected us, but have any dared to say so? THIEF No, master. AGMAR Then forget your fears, my thief. THIEF Two men went on dromedaries three days ago to see if the gods were still at Marma. AGMAR They went to Marma! THIEF Yes, three days ago. OOGNO We are lost! AGMAR They went three days ago? THIEF Yes, on dromedaries. AGMAR They should be back to-day. OOGNO We are lost! THAHN We are lost! THIEF They must have seen the green jade idols sitting against the mountains. They will say, "The gods are still at Marma." And we shall be burnt. SLAG My master will yet devise a plan. AGMAR (_to the Thief_) Slip away to some high place and look toward the desert and see how long we have to devise a plan. SLAG My master will find a plan. OOGNO He has taken us into a trap. THAHN His wisdom is our doom. SLAG He will find a wise plan yet. THIEF (_reëntering_) It is too late! AGMAR It is too late! THIEF