Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Third series (IA playstranslatedf03benauoft).pdf/118

 it that I surprise you now in the company of Ruhu-Sahib, the elephant-driver?

. But surely you do not suppose?… A Hindu, a savage?… I was merely gathering points about his elephants. He is a remarkable man. The life of these circus people is vastly more entertaining than ours. I wonder what you would think if I should decide to join the circus? What would people say?

. Probably that you were settling down. In the light of your experience, it might not appear surprising.

. This conventional life is a horrible bore. It is unrelieved monotony.

. If you were to suppress the most monotonous feature of your life, it would be a horrible bore.

. Come, invite me to take something. I'll have an ice, a tutti-frutti. They are delicious.

. With pleasure… Ah! Imperia. Do you see?

. Yes, and I have seen her here before.

. How extraordinary! And alone. In that gown!

. She is always gowned imperially. She is an artist, although not in my line.

. I do not understand

. Why be so innocent? You know your model better than I do. By the way, what was she like when she was with you? I have heard so many stories.

. I met her in Rome. She was one of the models who hang about the Piazza di Spagna. Donina was her name at the time. She was a spare, pinched figure, clad in rags, with a suggestion about her that was indescribably sordid and poor. This terrible poverty of the great cities is not only want of bread, it is hunger for everything which