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POTIPHAR.
( wearily )

Yes, you have said that before.

MADAM POTIPHAR.
I say it again. Joseph is a scoundrel.

POTIPHAR.
You’ll have to do more than say it, my dear.
What proof have you of his villainy?

MADAM POTIPHAR.
I think you might trust to my womanly intuition.

POTIPHAR.
Bah! Joseph is going to stay! Do you understand?

He pounds on the table for emphasis.

Madam Potiphar takes advantage of the occasion to drop the sandal unnoticed.

MADAM POTIPHAR.
Well, you needn’t create a domestic scene.
Asenath may return at any moment.

POTIPHAR.
( gloomily )

I believe I’m to take her out in the chariot.

MADAM POTIPHAR.
You don’t begrudge my guest that much of your attention, do you? You know I cannot bear to ride behind those wild horses of yours. And she said she wanted to see the city.

POTIPHAR.
Oh–I’ll go. But I must see to my chariot.

( He claps his hands. A servant appears, and bows deeply.)

Send Joseph here at once.

With another deep bow, the slave disappears. A pause.

MADAM POTIPHAR.
Now you know what it is to have your slave off attending
to some business of his own when you want him.

POTIPHAR.
( annoyed )

Where can he be?

Enter Joseph.

JOSEPH.
( ignoring Madam Potiphar, and making a slight bow to Potiphar )

Here I am, sir.

POTIPHAR.
( after a triumphant glance at his wife )

Have my chariot made ready for me, will you?

JOSEPH.
It will give me great pleasure to do so, sir.

He bows slightly, and goes out.

MADAM POTIPHAR.
Did you notice his insolence?

POTIPHAR.
There you go again! He said he was glad to
do it for me. What more do you want?

MADAM POTIPHAR.
You are the stupidest man in Egypt.

POTIPHAR.
Thank you, my dear.

Joseph returns.

POTIPHAR.
Is the chariot ready so soon, Joseph?

JOSEPH.
The chariot is quite ready.

POTIPHAR.
Very well.

( A pause )

And are those accounts finished yet, Joseph?

JOSEPH.
The accounts are quite finished.
And I would like to suggest, if I may–

He is interrupted by the re-entrance of Asenath.

ASENATH.
What a lovely garden you have!

MADAM POTIPHAR.
( significantly )

Yes!

ASENATH.
The pomegranate blossoms are so beautiful!

MADAM POTIPHAR.
You could hardly tear yourself away, could you?

POTIPHAR.
( with a patient smile )

And are you ready for your chariot ride now?

ASENATH.
Oh, yes! I am so eager to see the city!
But I fear my hair needs a touch or two, first. . . .

MADAM POTIPHAR.
It is so hard to keep one’s hair in order when one
walks in the garden. I will take you to my room, dear Asenath.

( To Potiphar )
We shall be ready presently.

POTIPHAR.
The horses are waiting!

ASENATH.
It won’t take me but a moment!