ZOBEIDE. You are a young girl, you have not reached years of discretion, and cannot see your own interests. I have not the slightest intention of going to find Aga-Hassam, and telling him that my niece is unwilling to marry him. I have promised you to him, and he left after receiving my word on it; you may spare yourself further talk on this matter. [_Zobeide rises and goes out._] =Scene VI= AZIZ-BEY. You see now what real trouble I am in. I shall go off at once. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. Where will you go? AZIZ-BEY. To this villain, Aga-Hassam, to punish him as he deserves. I can no longer restrain myself. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. What is the matter with you? Do not go; remain here. You will otherwise commit some blunder. I intend sending someone from me to this wretch, to tell him to come here, and I will compel him myself to abandon these designs of his.--Goul-Sebah! [_Enter Goul-Sebah._] =Scene VII= SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. Goul-Sebah, go to the home of Aga-Hassam, the merchant, take him aside, and tell him that a woman asks for him on a most important errand; but do not mention my name. [_Exit Goul-Sebah. Then Sekiné-Khanoun turns toward Aziz-Bey_.] =Scene VIII= SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. By heavens, Aziz-Bey, you are a child whose lips are still wet with your nurse’s milk! Go and look at yourself in the glass and see how red your eyes are from rage. How is it you have so little force of character? This base fellow cannot take me by force. AZIZ-BEY. You are right; but what can I do when my heart is overflowing. [_Footsteps heard without. Aziz-Bey returns to the other chamber. Sekiné-Khanoun veils her face and seats herself. Enter Goul-Sebah with Aga-Hassam_.] =Scene IX= AGA-HASSAM. Good-day, madame. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN [_pleasantly_]. Good-day, sir. Do you know who I am, brother Hassam? AGA-HASSAM. No, madame, I do not. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. Really! Well, Aga-Hassam, I must inform you that I am Sekiné, the sister of Hadji-Ghafour. Aga-Hassam [_in astonishment_]. Indeed! I have heard of you. Can I do any thing for you? I am your humble servant and your slave, your domestic, your lackey. SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. No, Aga-Hassam, let me beg you to be neither my slave nor my servant; be my brother, both in this world and in the next, and give up all idea of marrying me. It is for the purpose of making this simple request that I have called you here; this is all I have to say to you. AGA-HASSAM [_in confusion_]. But, madame, why do you not permit me to be your slave? What fault have I committed? SEKINÉ-KHANOUN. You have committed no fault, and it is best that I should speak plainly to you. I am informed that you sent to my aunt to ask for my hand; but it is quite useless for her to give her consent to your demand. I may as well tell you that I am not the person to suit you in this matter; abandon, therefore, your purpose. From henceforth do not name me in connection with this subject again.