Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/108

 ing; I have seen jails constructed to imprison those who are so wanting in resignation that they rise, rather than submit to the blind injustice and cruelty of their fate; I have seen asylums and hospitals which gather up those who fall by the wayside, who do resign themselves, and believe me there is small charity in them, and no mercy. I have seen—well, a great many other things, the very existence of which you cannot even imagine at the Court of Suavia. I have seen these things, I know these things, by experience, as a man. So you will not be surprised if I reserve all my sympathy for persons whose situations are somewhat more distressing than yours, which you might very well alleviate if you cared to do so, having everything that you wish in this world, besides looking forward, no doubt, to a glorious reward in the next. Excuse me, my dear Baroness.

. Are you laughing at me? The world is out of joint. I scent dissolution in the air!

. A little more dissolution, my dear Baroness, and we may be able to breathe. The atmosphere is surcharged already.

. I left the room so as to avoid a scene; the exhibition has become a public scandal.

. He has not allowed her one moment to herself during the entire evening.

. The unpleasant part of it is that everybody is sorry for me. If the Comte were my husband, I should not mind; then I could afford to be independent. But now all my friends think that the Princess is forestalling my wedding. I am not easy about it myself. You know how vain men are; a princess is not to be had every day. I understand that she has accepted money from the Comte.

. Plenty of it, you may be certain.