Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/221

. Take that French case for example: the scandal nearly disrupted the army; even generals were mixed up in it. All politics, of course. Talk about handwriting—I could fix up for you myself pretty much what you please. If I had had any leaning toward evil, as thank God I have had toward good, and I have never had reason to regret it—a quiet conscience is better than great riches—well, the fact is I could fix up for you pretty much what I pleased. But I have never taken advantage of this ability, no, sir, unless sometimes in jest. Now and then a man must have his jest. But there are people who think otherwise, who will go to any length in order to get money. Yes, sir! But Doña Josefina? Nonsense! She is innocent. If you could see her as I do every morning, sitting at the foot of the bed fixing the collars and cuffs on the Governor's shirt!

. I wouldn't have believed it possible.

. No, sir, I tell you people are malicious, evil-minded. For instance, I brought up a niece of my wife's out of charity from a very tender age, and everybody said… Believe me, there is more in these things than appears upon the surface. Yes, sir! I have had experience. Don Baldomero's daughter is in love with Don Manolo; her father is opposed to the match; then Josefina intervenes with Doña O, and she is offended by it; so to disillusion the girl, they invent the first slander that comes into their heads.

. Caramba! They are growing impatient.

. Yes, the sun is hot and they bring their wine-skins. They are warming up. [Looking into the box] Ah! Now they hiss me.

. If it begins like this

. What will the end be?