Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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28 NORMAL OFFERING Omar: By the graces! It will not open! CErlter Natalie aricl Aclrar at left. Omar eoriceals the box aml key hurriedly arid remairis iri tlie sliacloiu of tlie pillar? Aclrar: I tell you, Natalie, father must be sought. I can no longer live here in happiness, fearing that he is ill or uncared for in some far land. Natalie: But where would you go in search of him? Your letters have always been returned. Atlrar: Do you know, my dear, I have sometimes thought that in the silver box the secret lay! Had not father commanded otherwise, I should be tempted to see for m yself. Natalie: You think perhaps that your father, fearing that he might never return, entrusted to that little box, the secret of his whereabouts so that you might seek him? No, Adrar, no. Do not let your curiosity tempt you in the guise of virtue. Aclrar lmiisirigl: And again, Natalie, the climate is killing you. If the box contains gold, we might leave this tropical heat and go to Nice. But as it is .... Natalie: Why think of the box at all, Adrar? The temptation to satisfy your curiosity will become an obsession. Aclrar: You wrong me, my wife. Curiosity to see the contents of the box is not my motive. My fatherls command is more sacred than all the hidden treasures of the world. But I ain worried. Natalie: Ibelieve you. But I assure you that what you wish to learn the box cannot reveal. Aolrar: Natalie! What do you mean? Natalie: Only this. Last night here in the court-yard I saw Ufra open his box and find therein a key. Aclrar: A key! Natalie: He was disappointed. His face was horrible to behold in the moonlight. Aclrar: He must have been sorely tempted. Omar lasiclel: So, my cunning Ufra. That was your little game! CExit Omar imol9ser've0l.l Natalie: You would excuse him, Adrar? Aolrar: He is to be pitied. But for father's sake, let us at least be faithful.

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NORMAL OFFERING 27 SCENE II. Place -The court-yard. Time-Three years have elapsed. Omar arid Ufra are seen pacing to arid fro. Ufra: No news from the East and our fortunes are fast dwin- dling! What think you the silver boxes contain, brother? A little gold at this time would re-establish me in Tunis. Omar llailghirig impleasarltlylz A little more gold to lure the unwary, eh, Ufra? tHe shrilgs his shoilldersl As for the contents of the box, I am sure that there is gold or its equivalent therein. It was a foolish fancy that prompted our father to hamper our legacy by a time bond. Ufra: But I tell you, Omar, I need the money or I shall be ruined! If you are so certain that we are all to come into a fortune, lend me the money I need and I will repay you when the five years are complete. Omar Ccoldlgl: I have no money to lend you, brother. If you are in such dire need, only a whimsical command separates you from plenty. Ufra: You advise me to break my pledge? Omar: I advise nothing. But since in everyday's business you do not shrink from dishonesty .... why should you in this? Ufra Carigrilgb: You accuse me of being a thief! What of your- self, my brother, what of Biskra, what of Ain Safra? Omar: I accuse you of nothing. I am simply stating the facts of the case. But from your mood I should say that I had misjudged you. CSarcastically.l Your bond to our father is sacred. CBowirig loial I beg forgiveness, Ufra lsemi-pacijiedbz Adieu, Omar. I must hasten to the bazaar. CEait Ufra, left.D QOmar, chfachlihg, draws from his timis the silver bo90.l Omar: You shall hold your secret from me no longer, little treas- ure house! If Algeria cannot countenance the wealth you reveal, there is Egypt or Paris. tHe operls the box, draws from it a large golden hey, arid reads the irlscriptiorll Key to the lotus flower carved in the marble pillar of the court-yard. Omar: Ah ha! Certainly I did well to keep my mind in suspense no longer. tHe flrids the hey-hole but the door does not opeiil

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NORMAL OFFERING 29 SCENE III. Place- The saine. Tiine--Two gears later. Aclrar is seated by the fonntain, ninsing. Aclrar: The time is passed. If my father should return today, he would have reason to be sad. Where is Omar? Where is Ufra? One buried in the Caspian, the other wandering no one knows where. Natalie! Natalie! CEnter Natalie, carrying silver born? Natalie: Here is the box with the key. Let us open it by the pillar here. Adrar: What can it contain, Natalie? Iconfess, Iam consumed with curiosity. tThey open the boa, flnol the gololen hey, git it into the lotns flower, and the oloor swings open. Aclrar clraws froni the capity a scroll of parchonent olrawn throilgh a beailtifiil rnby ring. He reaclslz Beloved Sons: Long years ago, our noble prince committed a grave political indis- cretion while a young student in Turkey. According to Turkish law such an act should be punished by a term of five years' imprisonment. Our prince returned to Algeria, a wiser man but unpunished, and for years nothing was said. But just before your return from Paris, relations between the two countries became strained and the old matter was revived. To save our prince from indignity I have taken his guilt upon my shoulders and have gone to serve his term. If I should die before that terrn expires, you are to present this ruby ring to our prince when the five years are over. May fate be kind, and may I be with you ere you read this! CThey stanol silent. A noise is hearcl withont. The sonntl of cheer- ing jills the street, Long line the Prince! Long live onr Governor! Long live Khani! The door opens. Enter Prince, Sahi, anol Khain, followed by nnnieroils attenclantsj I Khain: My son! Aclrar: Father! CThey einbracej Prince: Your father! has come back to you and was this morning named governor of Tunis. But Ibelieve his greatest happiness is in finding you faithful, Adrar. Khani: This is indeed the happiest moment of my life. Ah, Natalie, my daughter! tHe hisses her foreheacll Sahi Cbowing lowl: The feast is ready. Let us rejoice!