Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Third series (IA playstranslatedf03benauoft).pdf/221

. The poor man has no chance

. She appeared to favor me. Naturally, I said to myself, "This is mine," and from that moment I ceased to ingratiate myself with the other two.

. Your delicacy does you credit.

. We arranged interviews, we commenced a correspondence. Boys, I wish you could have seen those letters! As a talker I am only ordinary, but I am a whirlwind when I write. I hit upon some choice paragraphs. To make a long story short, the girl fell in love with me madly.

. And as soon as she was mad enough, she consented to marry you.

. Who told you she consented?

. Ah! Then she was not the one who consented?

. Never.

. Oh! That makes a difference. It was her sister?

. Neither.

. But I mean the other one. You said there were three?

. Not her either. What do you take me for? Give me credit. You don't know me.

. But you just said you were going to marry, you told us you were making love to the family; now, it appears you are marrying some one else. Whom are you going to marry?

. Does a man have to marry a woman because he happens to mention her name? Now don't you laugh! I am a thorough romantic, I am a man with a heart. Accursed heart, I say!

. If it affects you like this, your case must be serious.

. Wait, wait till you hear! What with all this cor-