Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/174

. [Laughing loudly] It seems to me I have heard that story before.

. [To ] What do you think of a woman who spends all her time flirting with a bull-fighter? She forgets she is not in Madrid, where everything goes.

. But what can we do?

. She ought to remember with whom she is and behave accordingly.

. [To and ] Won't you take something.? It was terribly hot in the cathedral.

. Did His Reverence have much to say?

. Yes, he was very eloquent.

. We were discussing bulls and the Marquis's daughter.

. Antonio don't know what to do—take it from me! The poor fellow is done for. And he won't listen to any talk. Why, he can't even sign a paper unless the Marquis's bulls are scratched all over it! And what bulls! Just to show you: last year a shower came up at Salamanca; there was a puddle in the middle of the ring. The bull ran out, the people yelled—and the bull stuck his nose in the puddle.

. My dear Marquis, it is the old story. The province is rich, its resources are inexhaustible; but everything here is subordinated to Madrid. It is a calamity. This poor Santiago, with the best intentions in the world, can do nothing. Besides, between ourselves, his wife makes him ridiculous. Not that she is bad, but she is frivolous—educated in Madrid, and there you know everything is superficial. Ah! I beg your pardon; I forgot you were from Madrid.

. You will not find my daughter superficial; she