Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/148

. What of it? I cannot afford to offend the ladies. They have formed a society under the patronage of the bishop—you know the bishop has always been very partial to me?

. I know, sir. [Calling] Coffee and toast! Well, every man to his taste. Excuse me, a lady— [To a young woman who is passing] Won't you have something?… Oh! I see. A full basket?… Guests, eh?… Of course!… Well, if you won't… [Returning to ] Don Baldomero's housekeeper. A fine girl! They say she's the real mistress of the house; a mountaineer from Villaquejido—yes, sir. Don Baldomero has an eye for the ladies. If she is number one, number two for Doña O, although they tell me she was beautiful once, yes she was! But time flies. That girl and Don Baldomero—would you believe it?—just between us, don't say a word—she poisons her mistress's life. Yes, sir! What do you think of that? All I know is she comes in every morning to get an ice.

. You poison your ices.

. No, what an idea! Speaking of antidotes, did you read "The Memoirs of a Chief of Police. A Half Century of Crime"? An old poisoner, who always gave his victims something deadly in their coffee, which it was impossible to distinguish from the drink, until one day the chief of police got down to the bottom of his cup

. But man! My coffee!

. Your coffee? Caramba! Haven't you had yours yet? Really, I have to laugh, Don Rosendo. Coming!… The toast on the side?

. Wherever it happens to drop.