The Indian Woman (L'Indienne)

SCENE VII.

CALEB, MENDÈS.

Well?

Everything is ready.

The Brachmines Brahmins?

They are about to arrive.

Instantly?

In a minute.

Ah!... did you pass through the public square?

As much as the crowd that fills it allowed me to.

The crowd! ah! I suspected that there would be many people... What are they saying about me?

For good and for ill.

For ill! And what ill can one say?

Pardon! but unfortunately those who said it were the wisest ones.

And what were they saying?

That it is never permitted to sacrifice to a frivolous point of honor a life that one owes to the State; that...