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/167

. The paper! Since it was written by my mother, it is mine.

. Don't be angry with me, Lorenzo, dear one. It is here. [Takes it from her bosom.] This is it.

. [Tries to seize it.] Give it me.

. Wait, wait. I will read it myself. I will read it more slowly than you—and thus you will be spared a too sudden knowledge of the truth.

. Then read on, and let us see.

. Yes, dear, but do not look at me. Only listen. [Holds the paper so that Don Lorenzo shall not see the contents; reads.] 'Lorenzo, my son, forgive me'

. Again!

. [Reading.] 'I feel that the end of life is near for me, and remorse has taken hold of me.' [Pause.]

. Continue.

. 'I wish to tell you the truth, and I love you too greatly to do so. Read the secret of your existence in these lines stained by my tears, and do then as you will.'

. The secret of my existence! Give it me. [Tries to snatch the paper from her.]

. No.

. What nightmare is this, Juana? You seem to have encircled my head with a band of iron that presses intolerably across my temples. Give me that paper.

. No. God help me!

. You must. [Seizes the paper, and reads with intense emotion.] 'Your father was rich, very rich. He possessed millions. I was very poor. We had no children' We had no children, she says

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