Page:Plays by Jacinto Benavente - Third series (IA playstranslatedf03benauoft).pdf/94

 about what is not my business. However, your Highness need have no concern. Pardon this intrusion…

. You are pardoned, you may be sure.

. Imperia! How are you? I have not seen you all day. I have not had one spare moment.

. I also have had guests.

. So I see.

. No, you must not judge by this. I do not dress for others; I dress for myself. I like to see myself in beautiful clothes. Your friends did not care to wait for me?

. They all had something for the evening. The Countess is terribly put out; I did not find it convenient to invite her.

. And so she invited herself? She was right. In a company which included Lady Seymour and Harry Lucenti, the Countess could scarcely have been out of place. Such hypocrisy is odious.

. In the first place, with regard to Lady Seymour, people say, they don't know. As far as the poet is concerned, he is the Prince's friend, and an artist.

. In her line, the Countess is also an artist.

. She is a fool. Now I hear that she is in love with an acrobat. Not only does she frequent the circus every evening, but she actually goes behind the scenes and mingles with the performers.

. Yes, I have seen her there myself.

. You? You at the circus!

. Yes, the last four nights, without missing one.

. But you said nothing about it.

. You didn't ask.