Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/284

 because of his slips. I live in terror of slips, so I wish to prevent María Antonia from making any. She has the greatest confidence in you; besides, you are Federico's friend. Tell me honestly what you know. Does he speak much of María Antonia?

. Incessantly; yes, indeed! He is in love with her madly.

. But does he…

. What are you asking me? I merely offer him good advice, which I do very easily by repeating for his benefit the precepts which I have urged so frequently upon myself.

. I remember—in that great passion of your life, to which you remain faithful even yet. Then by your love for María Antonia's mother, which was all admiration and all respect, help me to protect her daughter, the daughter of the woman you so dearly loved!

. And always did respect.

. So the memory of her love has become the religion of your life. Would you have had it otherwise? I trust you entirely. I fear for María Antonia, it is useless to conceal it; there is something in her attitude which makes me apprehensive of the worst. Be fair with me, and warn me when there is danger. I love María Antonia as if she were my own child.

. I am sure of it, but why worry? Federico has no reason to suspect my interest in this affair. He trusts me implicitly.

. Thanks, my friend, my good and loyal friend.

. The friend of everybody—always the friend. The world lives around me; men love, quarrel, suffer—and then they tell me about it. And so I live.

. In the memory of a great love, which at least is something.