Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/301

. We shall see.

. We certainly shall see. Have you so little pride that you are willing to make us both ridiculous, not only before your parents, but publicly? When it comes to suspicion, I might have suspected myself that when one of my most intimate friends made advances to my wife, it was because her conduct justified his insolence.

. Do you hear him? He insults me!

. Pepe, stop! What are you trying to do?

. No, I did not believe it, I could not believe it. I contrived a pretext and our friendship cooled, so that nobody might suspect. You cannot say that I seemed to notice it, or that I insulted you with suspicions, as you continually insult me.

. This is too much! Our cases are not similar.

. I am not so sure. It is not a question of motives, it is a question of common decency.

. Have you the impudence to insinuate… Oh, how insulting! How insulting! He dares to pretend that he might have had a suspicion of me. And you said nothing, I suppose, out of delicacy, out of fineness of feeling? Well, your delicacy is a measure of your affection, because I am not able to remain silent. I have less regard for decency than you have.

. Listen to me, María Antonia

. This is the end! Let him go; I have finished… I shall remain here, in my own home, with my father, and with you—yes, with you, my mother. For you are my mother!

. Reflect! Consider—if not for my sake, for your mother's sake! You cannot do it!