Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/276

 a caprice, for gratification of the sort in which my husband is now engaged, are willing to wreck the happiness of their dear ones for all the rest of their lives!

. I have not the faintest idea what you are talking about.

. Oh, nothing! I am not talking.

. Good evening. Am I punctual? Ah, Isabel, you don't say so…

. For once you are, and I appreciate it. We have guests this evening.

. So I see. Present me.

. Don Manuel Arenales, M. Adolphe Barona… His wife.

. A great pleasure, a very great pleasure!

. At last you have met an unadulterated Madrileño. He is just up and beginning the day.

. Have you any objection? Time is purely arbitrary. There is no reason why the day should begin with the sun. I am more gallant; I concede the privilege to the moon. I render homage to the eternally feminine.

. I have often been astonished to see you up early in the morning as I hurried to a lecture or a charitable affair.

. Were you making your rounds so early? Well, I was returning from mine. One may easily judge who had the better start of the day.

. Silence! I despise you. You are a reproach to the state of bachelorhood. Of what use are you in the world?

. A question, perhaps, that others might ask. To permit you to send me tickets every Monday and Tuesday for your benefits, and subscription-blanks for every manner of good works, to all of which I contribute most gladly, my