Who are you who speak?

ZAKKUR.
A lieutenant in our late Prince’s troop, my lord.

AHAB.
Go on, then, about Malik.

ZAKKUR.
Before delivering his orders to our late Prince, he showed them to the Syrian officers in the garrison at Ramoth. They saw a chance of intercepting our Prince upon his way. They bribed Malik to lead the Prince, so as to halt at the inn at Springs. They did not wish to set upon him because they expected the troop to be with the Prince. They sawed through the beams of the balcony of the inn so that when he set foot upon it, the floor should give way. The Prince did not bring his troop with him but set out with myself, his galloper, and Malik. He halted at the inn, at Malik’s persuasion, much against his will, for he wished to be here. Then all happened as his murderers the Syrians had devised. He went upon the balcony, it fell, and he died from it.After he had died, my lord, Malik urged us to come away, which I and my colleague would not, without examination. When we found that the beams had been sawn, remembering Malik’s Syrian birth and his suspicious wishes, first to halt there, then to come away, we taxed him with the crime and he confessed, and was secured.

The galloper waits at the inn for an escort for the body and the prisoner. It was decided that I should ride here at once with the news.

JEZEBEL.
Before he died, did he say anything?

ZAKKUR.
Yes, Madam; he muttered about the gods, and about you.

JEZEBEL.
What did he say?

ZAKKUR.
That we were to tell you that this was the gods’ reward for peace with Syria.

JEZEBEL.
Since he is dead, wisdom and peace are dead! [_She goes out._ 

AHAB.
God, thou hast faced me with my sin this day.
My son, who was to follow me as King,

 Prev. P 35/200 next