Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/56

 mine; I wish you all the happiness which I might have found in the world. Don't you yield one jot when they attempt to marry you to a man whom you do not love, and never can.

. Don't cry, Helena! Helena, I don't want you to go away!

. That will do. Countess, remove the Princes.

. Highnesses

. Helena and I must confer for the last time.

. For the last time? You are inflexible.

. Grandfather is horribly angry.

. Will all the toys you promised me surely come to-day?

. Of course they will! Just you wait and see. I brought you an automobile, and an encampment with soldiers in it that really walk, and cannon that really go off.

. Oh, how I love you!

. Follow me.

. Grandfather

. What is this? You are confined to your rooms for the remainder of the day. We have already had sufficient.

. Your Majesty…

. Well, why do you come? Do you fancy that I am so weak that a flood of tears can induce me to forget the duty which I owe to our house, even supposing that they were genuine? If I did not judge you as Emperor, yet as head of the family, I should be obliged to repeat what you already know: in my sight you are dead.

. You are very cruel. I asked for advice, for protection, and you refused to hear me. Why did you oppose my divorce?

. A divorce in our family?