Page:The great Galeoto; Folly or saintliness; two plays done from the verse of José Echegaray into English prose by Hannah Lynch (IA greatgaleotofoll00echerich).djvu/114

. It is sad, I admit; but perhaps public opinion is not altogether to blame.

. Teodora did go to your rooms—she was there

. To prevent the duel with Nebreda.

. Then why did she hide herself?

. Because we feared her presence would be misconstrued.

. The explanation is easy and simple. The difficult thing, Ernest, is to get us to believe it, for there is another still more easy and simple.

. Which dishonours more, and that's the beauty of it.

. Well, at least, admit that Teodora was giddy, if not really culpable.

. Guilt is prudent and cautious. On the other hand, how imprudent is innocence!

. Look here, if your rule holds good for everybody, the worst of us is an angel or a saint.

. You are right. What does it matter? What is the weight or value of such calumny? The worst of it is that thought is degraded by mean contact with a mean idea. From force of dwelling upon a crime, the conscience becomes familiar with it. It shows itself terrible and repellent—but it shows itself—at night, in dark solitude! Yes—[aside] but what! why are they listening to me so strangely, almost in suspense? [Aloud] I am myself; my name is an honourable one. If I killed Nebreda solely because of a lie, what would I not do to myself if guilt threatened to give the truth to calumny?

. [Aside to Mercedes.] He denied it! Why, it is as clear as daylight. 74