Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/290

. Have you never been in love, señorita?

. No, never. Father frightens my suitors away, as you will discover presently. He examines them about their incomes and, of course, the most interesting men never have any incomes. On the other hand, a man who has money and wants to get married is a fool entirely.

. [To and ] Shall we step out to the theatre? What do you say? We might take a look at that play which has made such a hit. It will amuse Josefina and Adolphe because it is so typically Spanish. They sing and dance jotas and tangos.

. Oh, yes, indeed! Spanish music and dancing interest me immensely. We are Spanish at heart. When I go to a bal masqué in Paris, I am a torero.

. A toreador?

. Ah, but you should see my costume! It is beautiful, authentic, rose velvet, with green and gold paillettes. The Figaro is embroidered with carnations, and I top it off with a round hat with a red cockade, muzzling myself meanwhile in my great Spanish cloak. I stick a broadsword in my belt to finish the bull.

. [To ] What do you do?

. Oh, I am Carmen!

. With a knife in your garter?

. No, it would not be seen; I wear it in my hair to feature my coiffure. I fasten the open blade between the teeth of two combs. It is inscribed: "To your heart!"

. Oh, you devil!

. Yes, that was on it, too, at least that was what papa said: "Oh, you devil!" Probably he wrote you the details.

. Yes, when we had no business that was more pressing to attend to.