Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/190

. Yours is the only handwriting that is legible in the house.

. True, Your Excellency, though self-praise does not become me, but the seventy-two governors who have occupied the Palace during the twenty years I have lived in it, have always valued my services highly. I say nothing of their wives, who continually send me presents. When it comes to a question of repairing umbrellas, or mending china, or any little handiness about the house, or entertaining the children with the latest toys, or preparing a special kind of starch for the wash, a secret which I had from some nuns, who as a particular favor passed it on to an aunt of mine, who brought me up, a sister of my father, sir, who is now in glory, God keep him, sir

. Don Trino, this is a very urgent matter.

. I beg your pardon, but since the señora was listening with such interest…

. I? I was thinking of something else.

. You will never find me backward with the pen.

. Don't construct so many bouquets for yourself.

. As you say, sir. Ah! before I forget it; the refreshments

. What is the matter? Haven't they come?

. Sí, señora. But the fact is they were ordered from the Café of the Four Nations

. As is usual.

. I beg your pardon. As is usual during liberal administrations, for the proprietor is a leading liberal; but during conservative administrations the order is always placed with the Café de Europa, whose proprietor is a conservative, and he has taken great offense, in my judgment with good reason, sir. for he has made many sacrifices for the party.

. I didn't know that when I gave the order.