Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/117

 your real songs, the repertoire that you used to sing in the theatre. I have heard so much about you that I am terribly anxious to hear you, although at Court, of course, this sort of thing was impossible.

. Stephen! Is anything wrong with Her Highness?

. Elsa!

. Tell her to respect me. She has no right, you must not allow her to insult me like this.

. What is the matter? What is she crying about?

. Be quiet! Say nothing.—She thinks you are trying to insult her.

. I? I insult her? Why should I? She is crazy.

. Let me alone; don't you talk to me. She has no right to treat me like this. It is all your fault.

. Oh, come, come! What is the use of being silly?

. But, Stephen

. I told you so. They are the ones who cannot forget.

. Does she think that I tried deliberately to insult her? How could she? I ask you, was I wrong? I will be the first to apologize. She promised to sing at the concert this evening. Then why should she be offended because I ask her to sing for us afterward? Everybody knows that she was a comic-opera singer—that is her reputation, her personality, to which she owes her position; but now she attempts to deny it, and is offended because I mention it. She blames it on me—me, who have always admired anybody, man or woman, who has had the courage to make his own way in the world, whatever his social position, and who owes all that he is to his own efforts. [To ]