Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Third series (IA playstranslatedf03benauoft).pdf/54

. Are you swallowing?

. No, no. A mistake. [Aside to the ] A glass of water, for heaven's sake! I am choking.

. Don't be so cruel. Let him at least have a drink.

. Yes. Let him have a drink.

. Here.

. To the health of such a noble gentleman. Ah!… The wine is good. Good wine!

. Of my own vintage.

. Now I understand that you are a happy man.

. Go up to those windows there. Cast your eye upon that distant mountain; well, as far as that all this country belongs to me. Behind the mountain, there lie other lands, until you come to a river; well, as far as that, all this country belongs to me. Beyond the river there are as many other lands, which stretch down as far as the sea; well, as far as the sea, all this country belongs to me.

. But not the sea? What a pity!

. The sea wouldn't be of any use to me. The sea is for fishes and sailors, adventurous folk. I am a practical man.

. So I see.

. I live here happier than a king.

. It may be… I never saw a king eat with such an appetite.

. Well, then, this is nothing more than lunch. At noon to-day I dined on a roast calf. And for supper… Ah! For supper I have reserved the choicest morsel.

. [Aside] Uy! Now he is looking at me. He has made up his mind to reserve me for supper. [Aloud] But you don't know how tired I am—after my journey—walking so far. I am not fit, not presentable…