Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/200

 manager of the Circle? Well, his place was running until last night, when some one brought word to the Governor that his order to close the house had not been complied with. He had continued playing because he had understood that he was within his rights; he had received a letter

. Eh? Have you that letter?

. Don't you see? That letter served as a guarantee, a receipt for a certain sum of money, and it has come into my possession. Unless you take steps to prevent it, it will presently come into that of Don Santiago. I know this letter is not signed by you, although it is directed to you, and by a person who, by addressing you in such connection, gives ample evidence of the esteem in which you are held by her; I know you will say that it is a great deal to ask you to leave Moraleda in exchange for a letter, but in order to placate Reinosa, whose casino is closed in spite of the guarantee, I understand that you have paid a visit to a certain club of which I am landlord and honorary president, and I wish to inform you that even suppose they do gamble there

. They do. There is no supposition about that.

. Even if they do, let me tell you, they know what they are doing, they are of full age, and it calls for no interference from you. We are not all equally influential, young man, though you may not realize it, and whether pretending to the hand of my daughter, or pretending to put me before the community in a contemptible light as the proprietor of a gambling-hell

. Pardon any pretense upon my part. So long as I supposed that family reasons, which I respect, prompted this behavior, I remained silent; but now that it appears to have also its business side, that puts another face upon the matter. Do as you see fit with that letter, but let me tell