JEZEBEL. Oh, speak! O my dear son,
How can I help, I being Queen no longer,
But banished and condemned? What can I do?
And what is this of riding rods and flowers? (_There is a sighing._)
My son is gone into the night of Death,
And Jehu murdered him in ways unknown.
Would I could prove the crime! Enter MICAIAH. MICAIAH. Madam, a rider from the inn at Springs
Has brought these flowers, gathered by the Prince
Your son, now dead. JEZEBEL. The flowers that speak truth;
Was there no other relic but the flowers? MICAIAH. Yes, Madam, this: a staff or riding rod,
Left on the flowers, so the rider said. JEZEBEL. A riding rod! And do you know the rod? MICAIAH. Madam, I do. It is Lord Jehu’s staff. JEZEBEL. What brought it to the inn at Springs, Micaiah? MICAIAH. I do not know. The rider found it there. JEZEBEL. Where is the rider who delivered these? MICAIAH. Gone, Madam; he preferred not to be known. JEZEBEL. I see you have suspicions; let me know them. MICAIAH. Madam, this staff was in Lord Jehu’s hand
This morning, when I saw him here at court. JEZEBEL. That, or one like it? Could you swear to that? MICAIAH. He held this staff. He stopped me in the square
About a warrant, and I noticed it.
This little scratch is unmistakable. JEZEBEL. And what can you conclude from this, Micaiah? MICAIAH. That the Lord Jehu hurried to the Springs,
After I saw him, and then hurried back. JEZEBEL. What duty could have taken him to Springs? MICAIAH. Madam, he had no duty there. I asked. JEZEBEL. Might not a messenger have gone from him
Bearing his staff? MICAIAH. Madam, he went himself.
The warden at the west gate saw him start
In that direction, and return from thence
Three hours later. He was back by noon. JEZEBEL. So that he would have been at Springs, perhaps,
Before Prince Ahaziah halted there? MICAIAH. Perhaps. JEZEBEL. Yet not perhaps; he would have been there.
He must have been there at the very time. MICAIAH. Madam, I dare not utter thoughts like these. JEZEBEL. Yet Jehu could not know that he was coming
Home from the frontier, or would pass by Springs. MICAIAH. So please you, Madam, but the fact was known
Publicly in the city everywhere.
The knowledge was abroad, I know not how.
You are beset by watchers, and by traitors. JEZEBEL. And murderers and friends of murderers.
Jehu waylaid my son and murdered him.
By these poor relics sacred with his blood
I will denounce him to the King myself,
Or lay him dead before me with my hands. (_She gathers the relics._) MICAIAH. Lie there, sad relic of a glorious youth. ZIKRI (entering). Make ready for the utterance of the Prophet! KALLAI (entering). Bow down before the Prophet, bringer of truth! 

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