Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/210

. Good!

. We attach too much importance to trifles, we forget to look up, to peer into the far horizons…

. Sublime!

. What is the meaning of all this?

. The meaning of it is, Santiago, that a sensible man never pays any attention to what he is told by his wife.

. And has that just occurred to you in the last quarter of an hour? [To ] What do you say?

. Josefina has been imposed upon by designing persons. Without realizing it, she has been influenced to her disadvantage.

. You don't mean to tell me that it was a mistake? [To ] I said so from the beginning; and you, you tell me now

. That you have committed a blunder, that you have fallen into a trap, that you have flown in the face of public opinion, and without a moment's loss of time you ought to save the remnants of your reputation by removing at once this arbitrary, this ridiculous prohibition.

. More arbitrary than ridiculous…

. Oh, oh, oh! This is too much! [To ] What am I to do? I knew it! I knew it! Advise me. How will it be possible for me to change my order a second time? My authority will be gone. No, no! This time I will stand by my decree though the heavens fall. Wouldn't it be contemptible if now—tell me impartially

. Yes… It would…

. [To ] Back me up. [Aloud] Manolo will tell you, if he is sincere, what he has told me: that you are exposing yourself to a great danger. There will be riots. Your obstinacy will cost you dear.