Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Second series (IA playsbyjacintobe00bena).pdf/76

. [Aside] Fifty thousand francs deserves some substantial recognition.

. Monsieur le Comte need only name the day, and I assume responsibility for a satisfactory result.

. May I volunteer to sing the lament, that marvellous passage?

. Your Highness! Is it possible? If you do, it will be the first time that it has been rendered by a pure artist.

. I shall bring to it all the pathos of my art.

. The soul of the master will rise in his grave as you sing.

. He will be sure to hear you. We entertain no shadow of doubt.

. [Aside to ] We shall hear Her Highness, too—at less distance.

. It is a far cry from "La Belle Hélène" to Wilf's music.

. No further than the jump from stage princess to princess in fact.

. Although double somersaults are less usual in high art than in good society. Anybody can rub elbows with a king or a grandee, but Shakespeare and Beethoven are something quite different. I am not as much of a fool as you think.

. You certainly are not.

. I failed as an actress and determined to be a countess, and found that I was built for the part.

. As the hour is late, we must retire. Gottfried has still to consecrate the better half of the night to his labors.

. I also must husband my energies for the approaching concert.