She is on the brink of the abyss... will he not stretch out his hand to save her?... She is a weak woman, and a stranger, and afraid of everything... The husband laughs at these forebodings, which he is not used to hearing from his wife, and promises her that he will not be away from her more than a few weeks... — But when you return you may not find me... Perhaps I shall die... Do not leave me in the middle of my life... I feel that something in me has ended... An hour of parting... a single hour is enough... But "De Ciz" can make no sense of this "hysteria"... a few weeks and it will be over... a woman's fancies... And so the husband forsakes his duty in the hour of trial — namely, the safekeeping of this soul, entrusted to him by her Creator on the day he was bound to her by the sacred mystery of marriage... He, the strong man who lived with this creature ten years without perceiving that this restive thoroughbred mare was searching for her horseman... And Ysé, at the end of her resources, bids farewell to this stubborn man, knowing that he will not find her when he returns... Let it be as he wished... And "Ysé" turns — and there is "Mesa" waiting for her. — Mesa! My husband has gone... and I am left alone... Say that you will not see me... You must leave me alone... — I will not see you! I will leave you alone... And he leans his fevered breast upon hers, the tears choking him... — Poor "Mesa"! — Ysé! Everything is finished... Here they are, in a painful, agonizing communion, plucking the fruit of their forbidden love... For "Ysé" left her husband and her children and followed this strange man, and lived with him a whole year under one roof, but... how could