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/175

 father!—that brainless scholar! an atheist clothed in sanctity! a new Don Quixote minus wit and plus pedantry! a mock Bayard of honour! What sort of father is he who pretends to a reputation for virtue through his daughter's broken heart? A fig for such virtue! Vice itself is more lovable. No one comes, and the hours go by—ah, I hear somebody coming at last.

SCENE II

Edward and the Duchess, who enters R.

. How is Inés, mother? Has she regained consciousness?

. She has now, thank God. Poor child! I could not go until I was assured it was all right, and that she was better. And you, my son?

. I must see her.

. Edward!

. Then we have to talk to Don Lorenzo, and afterwards

. Afterwards you will get to the end of my patience. I have done all for you that honour, dignity, and social convention permit—even more. But the moment has come for you to show yourself a man, to remember who you are and listen to the voice of duty.

. Rightly said, mother, that is what I am prepared to do, but it remains to be seen if we entertain the same idea of duty.

. You must give Inés up.

. Why? Because of her poverty?

. By no means.

. Then why, mother? Because Don Lorenzo 135