"Like a moth on a pin I preserve all your kisses!..."
"Like a moth on a pin I preserve all your kisses!..."
Everybody makes allowances for poetry. Nobody is going to take seriously what he reads in a poem. He married you anyway. Why should any one object?
Carolina.Stop, Florencio! What are you talking about? We are making ourselves ridiculous.
Florencio.Why should we make ourselves ridiculous? Although I shall certainly stand by you, whatever you decide, if for no other reason than that I am your husband, his widow's husband. Otherwise people might think that I wanted you to forget, that I was jealous of his memory; and you know that is not the case. You know how I admired him, how I loved him—just as he did me. Nobody could get along with him as well as I could; he was not easy to get along with, I do not need to tell you that. He had his peculiarities—they were the peculiarities of a great man—but they were great peculiarities. Like all great men, he had an exaggerated opinion of himself. He was horribly stubborn, like all strong characters. Whenever he got on one of his hobbies no power on earth could pry him off of it. It is only out of respect that I do not say he was pig-headed. I was the only one who had the tact and the patience to do anything with him; you know that well enough. How often you said to me: "Oh, Florencio! I can't stand it any longer!" And then I would reason with you and talk to him, and every time that you had a quarrel I was the one who consoled you afterward.
Carolina.Florencio, you are perfectly disgusting! You have no right to talk like this.
Florencio.Very well then, my dear. I understand how you feel. This is a time when everybody is dwelling on his virtues, his good qualities, but I want you to remember that that great man had also his faults.
Carolina.You don't know what you are talking about.
Florencio.Compare me with him—
Carolina.Florencio? You know that in my mind there has never been any comparison. Comparisons are odious.
Florencio.Not necessarily. But of course you have not! You have never regretted giving up his distinguished name, have you, Carolina, for this humble one of mine? Only I want you to understand that if I had desired to shine, if I had been ambitious.... I have talent myself. Now admit it!
Carolina.Of course I do, my dear, of course! But what is the use of talking nonsense?
Florencio.What is the matter with you, anyway? You are nervous to-day. It is impossible to conduct a sensible conversation.—Hello! Your sisters-in-law! I am not at home.
Carolina.Don't excite yourself. They never ask for you.
Florencio.I am delighted!... Well, I wish you a short session and escape.
Carolina.I am in a fine humor for this sort of thing myself.
[Florencio goes out. Eudosia and Paquita enter.]
Eudosia.I trust that we do not intrude?
Carolina.How can you ask? Come right in.
Eudosia.It seems we find you at home for once.
Carolina.So it seems.
Paquita.Strange to say, whenever we call you always appear to be out.
Carolina.A coincidence.
Eudosia.The coincidence is to find you at home. [A pause.] We passed your husband on the street.
Carolina.Are you sure that you would recognize him?
Paquita.Oh! he was not alone.
Carolina.Is that so?
Eudosia.Paquita saw him with Somolino's wife, at Sanchez the confectioner's.
Carolina.Very possibly.
Paquita.I should not make light of it, if I were you. You know what Somolino's wife is, to say nothing of Sanchez the confectioner.
Carolina.I didn't know about the confectioner.
Eudosia.No respectable woman, no woman who even pretends to be respectable, would set foot in his shop since he married that French girl.
Carolina.I didn't know about the French girl.
Eudosia.Yes, he married her—I say married her to avoid using another term. He married her in Bayonne—if you call such a thing marriage—civilly, which is the way French people marry. It is a land of perdition.
Carolina.I am very sorry to hear it because I am awfully fond of sweetmeats. I adorebonbonsandmarrons glacés, and nobody here has as good ones as Sanchez, nor anywhere else for that matter.
Paquita.In that case you had as well deny yourself, unless you are prepared to invite criticism. Somolino's wife is the only woman who enters the shop and faces the French girl, who gave her a receipt for dyeing her hair on the spot. You must have noticed how she is doing it now.
Carolina.I hadn't noticed.
Eudosia.It is not jet-black any more; it is baby-pink—so she is having the Frenchwoman manicure her nails twice a week. Have you noticed the condition of her nails? They are the talk of the town.
[A pause.]
Paquita.Well, I trust he is satisfied.
Carolina.Who is he?
Paquita.I do not call him your husband. Oh, our poor, dear brother!
Carolina.I have not the slightest idea what you are talking about.
Eudosia.So he has had his way at last and desecrated the statue of our poor brother with the figures of those naked women?
Paquita.As large as life.
Carolina.But Florencio is not responsible. It was the sculptor and the committee. I cannot see anything objectionable in them myself. There are such figures on all monuments. They are allegorical.
Eudosia.I could understand, perhaps, why the statue of Truth should be unclothed. Something of the sort was always expected of Truth. But I must say that Commerce and Industry might have had a tunic at least. Commerce, in my opinion, is particularly indecent.
Paquita.We have declined the seats which were reserved for us. They were directly in front and you could see everything.
Eudosia.I suppose you still intend to be present? What a pity that there is nobody to give you proper advice!
Carolina.As I have been invited, I judge that I shall be welcome as I am.
Paquita.Possibly—if it were good form for you to appear at all. But when you exhibit yourself with that man—who was his best friend—after only three short years!
Carolina.Three long years.
Eudosia.No doubt they seemed long to you. Three years, did I say? They were like days to us who still keep his memory green!
Paquita.Who still bear his name, because no other name sounds so noble in our ears.
Eudosia.Rather than change it, we have declined very flattering proposals.
Carolina.I am afraid that you have made a mistake. You remember that your brother was very anxious to see you married.
Paquita.He imagined that all men were like him, and deserved wives like us, our poor, dear brother! Who would ever have dreamed he could have been forgotten so soon? Fancy his emotions as he looks down on you from the skies.
Carolina.I do not believe for one moment that he has any regrets. If he had, then what would be the use of being in paradise? Don't you worry about me. The best thing that a young widow can do is marry at once. I was a very young widow.
Eudosia.You were twenty-nine.
Carolina.Twenty-six.
Eudosia.We concede you twenty-six. At all events, you were not a child—not to speak of the fact that no widow can be said to be a child.
Carolina.No more than a single woman can be said to be old. However, I fail to see that there would be any impropriety in my being present at the unveiling of the statue.
Eudosia.Do you realize that the premature death of your husband will be the subject of all the speakers? They will dwell on the bereavement which we have suffered through the loss of such an eminent man. How do you propose to take it? When people see you standing there, complacent and satisfied, alongside of that man, do you suppose they will ever believe that you are not reconciled?
Paquita.What will your husband do while they are extolling the genius of our brother, and he knows that he never had any?
Carolina.That was not your brother's opinion. He thought very highly of Florencio.
Eudosia.Very highly. Our poor, dear brother! Among his other abilities he certainly had an extraordinary aptitude for allowing himself to be deceived.
Carolina.That assumption is offensive to me; it is unfair to all of us.
Eudosia.I hope you brought it with you, Paquita?
Paquita.Yes; here it is.
[Taking out a book.]
Eudosia.Just look through this book if you have a moment. It arrived to-day from Madrid and is on sale at Valdivieso's. Just glance through it.
Carolina.What is the book? [Reading the title upon the cover.] "Don Patricio Molinete, the Man and His Work. A Biography. Together with His Correspondence and an Estimate of His Life." Why, thanks—
Paquita.No, do not thank us. Read, read what our poor brother has written to the author of this book, who was one of his intimate friends.
Carolina.Recaredo Casalonga. Ah! I remember—a rascal we were obliged to turn out of the house. Do you mean to say that scamp Casalonga has any letters? Merely to hear the name makes me nervous.
Eudosia.But go on! Page two hundred and fourteen. Is that the page, Paquita?
Paquita.It begins on page two hundred and fourteen, but before it amounts to anything turn the page.
Carolina.Quick, quick! Let me see. What does he say? What are these letters? What is this? He says that I.... But there is not a word of truth in it. My husband could never have written this.
Eudosia.But there it is in cold type. You don't suppose they would dare to print—
Carolina.But this is outrageous; this book is a libel. It invades the private life—the most private part of it! It must be stopped.
Eudosia.It cannot be stopped. You will soon see whether or not it can be stopped.
Paquita.Probably the edition is exhausted by this time.
Carolina.Is that so? We shall see! We shall see!—Florencio! Florencio! Come quickly! Florencio!
Eudosia.Perhaps he has not yet returned.
Paquita.He seemed to be enjoying himself.
Carolina.Nonsense! He was never out of the house. You are two old busybodies!
Eudosia.Carolina! You said that without thinking.
Paquita.I cannot believe my ears. Did you say busybody.
Carolina.That is exactly what I said. Now leave me alone. I can't stand it. It is all your fault. You are insupportable!
EudosiaandPaquita. Carolina!
Carolina.Florencio! Florencio!
[Florencio enters.]
Florencio.What is it, my dear? What is the matter? Ah! You? I am delighted....
Eudosia.Yes, we! And we are leaving this house, where we have been insulted—forever!
Paquita.Where we have been called busybodies!
Eudosia.Where we have been told that we were insupportable!
Paquita.And when people say such things you can imagine what they think!
Florencio.But Eudosia, Paquita.... I do not understand. As far as I am concerned....
Eudosia.The person who is now your wife will make her explanations to you.
Paquita.I never expected to be driven out of our brother's house like this!
Eudosia.Our poor, dear brother!
Florencio.But, Carolina—
Carolina.Let them go! Let them go! They are impossible.
Paquita.Did you hear that, Eudosia? We are impossible!
Eudosia.I heard it, Paquita. There is nothing left for us to hear in this house.
Carolina.Yes there is! You are as impossible as all old maids.
Eudosia.There was something for us to hear after all! Come, Paquita.
Paquita.Come, Eudosia.
[They go out.]
Florencio.What is this trouble between you and your sisters-in-law?
Carolina.There isn't any trouble. We were arguing, that was all. There is nothing those women like so much as gossip, or making themselves disagreeable in any way they can. Do you remember Casalonga?
Florencio.Recaredo Casalonga? I should say I did remember him! That man was a character, and strange to say, a profound philosopher with it all. He was quite a humorist.
Carolina.Yes, he was. Well, this philosopher, this humorist, has conceived the terribly humorous idea of publishing this book.
Florencio.Let me see. "Don Patricio Molinete, the Man and His Work. A Biography. Together with His Correspondence and an Estimate of His Life." A capital idea! They were great friends, you know, although I don't suppose that there can be anything particular in this book. What could Casalonga tell us anyway?
Carolina.Us? Nothing. But go on, go on.
Florencio.You don't say! Letters of Patricio's. Addressed to whom?
Carolina.To the author of the book, so it seems. Personal letters, they are confidential. Go on, go on.
Florencio."Dear Friend: Life is sad. Perhaps you ask the cause of my disillusionment. How is it that I have lost my faith in the future, in the future of our unfortunate land?" I remember that time. He was already ill. This letter was written after he had liver complaint and took a dark view of everything. Ah! What a pity that great men should be subject to such infirmities! Think of the intellect being made the slave of the liver! We are but dust. "The future of this unfortunate land...."
Carolina.No, that doesn't amount to anything. Lower down, lower down. Go on.
Florencio."Life is sad!"
Carolina.Are you beginning all over again?
Florencio.No, he repeats himself. What is this? "I never loved but once in my life; I never loved but one woman—my wife." He means you.
Carolina.. Yes. Go on, go on.
Florencio"I never trusted but one friend, my friend Florencio." He means me.
Carolina.Yes, yes; he means you. But go on, go on.
Florencio.I wonder what he can be driving at. Ah! What does he say? That you, that I....
Carolina.Go on, go on.
Florencio."This woman and this man, the two greatest, the two pure, the two unselfish passions of my life, in whom my very being was consumed—how can I bring myself to confess it? I hardly dare admit it to myself! They are in love—they love each other madly—in secret—perhaps without even suspecting themselves."
Carolina.What do you think of that?
Florencio.Suspecting themselves.... "They are struggling to overcome their guilty passion, but how long will they continue to struggle? Yet I am sorry for them both. What ought I to do? I cannot sleep."
Carolina.What do you say?
Florencio.Impossible! He never wrote such letters. Besides, if he did, they ought never to have been published.
Carolina.But true or false, they have been published, and here they are. Ah! But this is nothing! You ought to see what he says farther on. He goes on communicating his observations, and there are some, to be perfectly frank, which nobody could have made but himself.
Florencio.You don't mean to tell me that you think these letters are genuine?
Carolina.They might be for all we know. He gives dates and details.
Florencio.And all the time we thought he suspected nothing!
Carolina.You do jump so at conclusions, Florencio. How could he suspect? You know how careful we were about everything, no matter what happened, so as not to hurt his feelings.
Florencio.This only goes to show all the good that it did us.
Carolina.He could only suspect—that it was the truth; that we were loving in silence.
Florencio.Then perhaps you can explain to me what was the use of all this silence? Don't you see that what he has done now is to go and blurt the whole thing out to this rascal Casalonga?—an unscrupulous knave whose only interest in the matter is to turn these confidences to his own advantage! It is useless to attempt to defend it. Such foolishness was unpardonable. I should never have believed it of my friend. If he had any doubts about me—about us—why didn't he say so? Then we could have been more careful, and have done something to ease his mind. But this notion of running and telling the first person who happens along.... What a position does it leave me in? In what light do we appear at this time? Now, when everybody is paying respect to his memory, and I have put myself to all this trouble in order to raise money for this monument—what are people going to think when they read these things?
Carolina.I always said that we would have trouble with that monument.
Florencio.How shall I have the face to present myself to-morrow before the monument?
Carolina.My sisters-in-law were right. We are going to be conspicuous.
Florencio.Ah! But this must be stopped. I shall run at once to the offices of the papers, to the judicial authorities, to the governor, to all the booksellers. As for this Casalonga—Ah! I will settle with him! Either he will retract and confess that these letters are forgeries from beginning to end, or I will kill him! I will fight with him in earnest!
Carolina.Florencio! Don't forget yourself! You are going too far. You don't mean a duel? To expose your life?
Florencio.Don't you see that it is impossible to submit to such an indignity? Where is this thing going to stop? Is nobody's private life to be secure? And this goes deeper than the private life—it impugns the sanctity of our intentions.
Carolina.No, Florencio!
Florencio.Let me go!
Carolina.Florencio! Anything but a duel! No, no!
Florencio.Ah! Either he will retract and withdraw the edition of this libel or, should he refuse....
Carolina.Zurita!
Florencio.My friend.... You are just in time!
[Zurita enters.]
Zurita.Don Florencio.... Carolina.... Don't say a word! I know how you feel.
Florencio.Did you see it? Did you hear it? Is this a civilized country in which we live?
Carolina.But surely he has not heard it already?
Zurita.Yes, at the Club. Some one had the book; they were passing it around....
Florencio.At the Club?
Zurita.Don't be alarmed. Everybody thinks it is blackmail—a case ofchantage. Don Patricio could never have written such letters.
Florencio.Ah! So they think that?
Zurita.Even if he had, they deal with private matters, which ought never to have been made public.
Florencio.Exactly my idea—with private matters; they are confidential.
Zurita.I lost no time, as you may be sure, of hurrying to Valdivieso's shop, where the books are on sale. I found him amazed; he was entirely innocent. He bought the copies supposing that the subject was of timely importance; that it was of a serious nature. He hurried at once to withdraw the copies from the window, and ran in search of the author.
Florencio.Of the author? Is the author in town?
Zurita.Yes, he came with the books; he arrived with them this morning.
Florencio.Ah! So this scamp Casalonga is here, is he? Tell me where I can find him!
Zurita.At the Hotel de Europa.
Carolina.Florencio! Don't you go! Hold him back! He means to challenge him.
Zurita.Never! It is not worth the trouble. Besides, you ought to hold yourself above such things. Your wife is above them.
Florencio.But what will people say, friend Zurita? What will people say?
Zurita.Everybody thinks it is a huge joke.
Florencio.A joke? Then our position is ridiculous.
Zurita.I did not say that. What I do say....
Florencio.No, no, friend Zurita; you are a man of honor, you know that it is necessary for me to kill this man.
Carolina.But suppose he is the one who kills you? No, Florencio, not a duel! What is the use of the courts?
Florencio.No, I prefer to fight. My dear Zurita, run in search of another friend and stop at the Hotel de Europa as my representatives. Seek out this man, exact reparation upon the spot—a reparation which shall be resounding, complete. Either he declares over his own signature that those letters are impudent forgeries or, should he refuse....
Carolina.Florencio!
Florencio.Stop at nothing! Do not haggle over terms. Let it be pistols with real bullets, as we pace forward each to each!
Zurita.But, Don Florencio!
Carolina. Don't go, I beg of you! Don't leave the house!
Florencio.You are my friend—go at once!
Carolina.No, he will never go!
Zurita.But, Don Florencio! Consider.... The situation is serious.
Florencio.When a man is made ridiculous the situation ceases to be serious! How shall I have the face to show myself before the monument! I—his most intimate friend! She, my wife, his widow! And everybody thinking all the while of those letters, imagining that I, that she.... No, no! Run! Bring me that retraction at once.
Zurita.Not so fast! I hear the voice of Valdivieso.
Florencio.Eh? And Casalonga's! Has that man the audacity to present himself in my house?
Zurita.Be calm! Since he is here, perhaps he comes to explain. Let me see—
[He goes out.]
Carolina.Florencio! Don't you receive him! Don't you have anything to do with that man!
Florencio.I am in my own house. Never fear! I shall not forget to conduct myself as a gentleman. Now we shall see how he explains the matter; we shall see. But you had better retire first. Questions of honor are not for women.
Carolina.You know best; only I think I might remain within earshot. I am nervous. My dear!—Where are your arms?
Florencio.What do I need of arms?
Carolina.Be careful just the same. Keep cool! Think of me.
Florencio.I am in my own house. Have no fear.
Carolina.It upsets me dreadfully to see you in such a state.
Florencio.What are you doing now?
Carolina.Removing these vases in case you should throw things. I should hate awfully to lose them; they were a present.
Florencio.Hurry, dear!
Carolina.I am horribly nervous. Keep cool, for heavens' sake! Control yourself.
[Carolina goes out. Zurita reënters.]
ZURITA.Are you calmer now?
FLORENCIO.Absolutely. Is that man here?
Zurita.Yes, Valdivieso brought him. He desires to explain.
Florencio.Who? Valdivieso? Naturally. But that other fellow, that Casalonga—what does he want?
Zurita.To have a few words with you; to offer a thousand explanations.
Florencio.No more than one explanation is possible.
Zurita.Consider a moment. In my opinion it will be wiser to receive him. He appears to be innocent.
Florencio.Of the first instincts of a gentleman.
Zurita.Exactly. I did not venture to put it so plainly. He attaches no importance to the affair whatever.
Florencio.Of course not! It is nothing to him.
Zurita.Nothing. However, you will find him disposed to go to any length—retract, make a denial, withdraw the book from circulation. You had best have a few words with him. But first promise to control yourself. Shall I ask them to come in?
Florencio.Yes ... yes! Ask them to come in.
Zurita.Poor Valdivieso is awfully put out. He always had such a high opinion of you. You are one of the two or three persons in this town who buy books. It would be a tremendous relief to him if you would only tell him that you knew he was incapable....
Florencio.Thoroughly! Poor Valdivieso! Ask him to come in; ask them both to come in.
[Zurita retires and returns presently with Valdivieso and Casalonga.]
Valdivieso.Señor Don Florencio! I hardly know what to say. I am sure that you will not question my good faith in the matter. I had no idea ... in fact, I never suspected....
Florencio.I always knew you were innocent! but this person....
Casalonga.Come, come now! Don't blame it on me. How the devil was I to know that you were here—and married to his widow! Sport for the gods!
Florencio.Do you hear what he says?
Zurita.I told you that he appeared to be innocent.
Florencio.And I told you that he was devoid of the first instincts of a gentleman; although I failed to realize to what an extent. Sir—
Casalonga.Don't be absurd! Stop making faces at me.
Florencio.In the first place, I don't recall that we were ever so intimate.
Casalonga.Of course we were! Of course! Anyhow, what difference does it make? We were together for a whole season; we were inseparable. Hard times those for us both! But what did we care? When one of us was out of money, all he had to do was to ask the other, and be satisfied.
Florencio.Yes; I seem to recall that the other was always I.
Casalonga.Ha, ha, ha! That might be. Stranger things have happened. But you are not angry with me, are you? The thing is not worth all this fuss.
Florencio.Do you hear what he says?
Valdivieso.You may be sure that if I had had the slightest idea.... I bought the books so as to take advantage of the timeliness of the monument. If I had ever suspected....
Casalonga.Identically my position—to take advantage of the monument. Life is hard. While the conservatives are in power, I am reduced to extremities. I am at my wit's end to earn an honest penny.
Florencio.I admire your colossal impudence. What are you going to do with a man like this?
Zurita.Exactly the question that occurred to me. What are you going to do?
Casalonga.For a time I was reduced to writing plays—like everybody else—although mine were better. That was the reason they did not succeed. Then I married my last landlady; I was obliged to settle with her somehow. A little difference arose between us, so we agreed to separate amicably after smashing all the furniture. However, that will be of no interest to you.
Florencio.No, no, it is of no interest to me.
Casalonga.A novel, my boy! A veritable work of romance! I wandered all over the country explaining views for the cinematograph. You know what a gift I have for talk? Wherever I appeared the picture houses were crowded—even to the exits. Then my voice gave out. I was obliged to find some other outlet for my activities. I thought of my friends. You know what friends are; as soon as a man needs them he hasn't any friends. Which way was I to turn? I happened to hear that you were unveiling a monument to the memory of friend Patricio. Poor Patricio! That man was a friend! He could always be relied upon. It occurred to me that I might write out a few pages of reminiscences—preferably something personal—and publish any letters of his which I had chanced to preserve.
Florencio.What luck!
Casalonga.Pshaw! Bread and butter—bread and butter, man! A mere pittance. It occurred to me that they would sell better here than anywhere else—this is where he lived. So I came this morning third class—think of that, third class!—and hurried at once to this fellow's shop. I placed two thousand copies with him, which he took from me at a horrible discount. You know what these booksellers are....
Valdivieso.I call you to witness—what was customary under the circumstances. He was selling for cash.
Casalonga.Am I the man to deny it? You can divide mankind into two classes—knaves and fools.
Valdivieso.Listen to this—
Casalonga.You are not one of the fools.
Valdivieso.I protest! How am I to profit by the transaction? Do you suppose that I shall sell a single copy of this libel now that I know that it is offensive to my particular, my excellent friend, Don Florencio, and to his respected wife?
Florencio.Thanks, friend Valdivieso, thanks for that.
Valdivieso.I shall burn the edition, although you can imagine what that will cost.
Florencio.The loss will be mine. It will be at my expense.
Casalonga.What did I tell you? Florencio will pay. What are you complaining about?—If I were in your place, though, I'd be hanged if I would give the man one penny.
Valdivieso.What? When you have collected spot cash?
Casalonga.You don't call that collecting? Not at that discount. The paper was worth more.
Florencio.The impudence of the thing was worth more than the paper.
Casalonga.Ha, ha, ha! Really, I cannot find it in my heart to be angry with you. You are too clever! But what was I to do? I had to find some outlet for my activities. Are you going to kill me?
Florencio.I have made my arrangements. Do you suppose that I will submit meekly to such an indignity? If you refuse to fight, I will hale you before the courts.
Casalonga.Drop that tragic tone. A duel? Between us? Over what? Because the wife of a friend—who at the same time happens to be your wife—has been intimate with you? Suppose it had been with some one else!
Florencio.The supposition is improper.
Casalonga.You are the first man I ever heard of who was offended because it was said that he had been intimate with his wife. The thing is preposterous. How are we ever going to fight over it?
Zurita.I can see his point of view.
Florencio.Patricio could never have written those letters, much less to you.
Casalonga.Talk as much as you like, the letters are genuine. Although it may have been foolish of Patricio to have written them—that is a debatable question. I published them so as to enliven the book. A little harmless suggestion—people look for it; it adds spice. Aside from that, what motive could I have had for dragging you into it?
Florencio.I admire your frankness at least.
Zurita.What do you propose to do with this man?
Florencio.What do you propose?
Casalonga.You know I was always fond of you. You are a man of ability.
Florencio.Thanks.
Casalonga.You have more ability than Patricio had. He was a worthy soul, no doubt, but between us, who were in the secret, an utter blockhead.
Florencio.Hardly that.
Casalonga.I need not tell you what reputations amount to in this country. If he had had your brains, your transcendent ability....
Florencio.How can I stop this man from talking?
Casalonga.You have always been too modest in my opinion; you have remained in the background in order to give him a chance to shine, to attract attention. Everybody knows that his best speeches were written by you.
Florence.You have no right to betray my confidence.
Casalonga.Yes, gentlemen, it is only just that you should know. The real brains belonged to this man, he is the one who should have had the statue. As a friend he is wonderful, unique!
Florencio.How am I going to fight with this man?
Casalonga.I will give out a statement at once—for public consumption—declaring that the letters are forgeries—or whatever you think best; as it appeals to you. Fix it up for yourself. It is of no consequence anyhow. I am above this sort of thing. I should be sorry, however, to see this fellow receive more than his due, which is tworealsa copy, or what he paid me.
Valdivieso.I cannot permit you to meddle in my affairs. You are a rogue and a cheat.
Casalonga.A rogue and a cheat? In that case you are the one I will fight with. You are no friend of mine. You are an exploiter of other men's brains.
Valdivieso.You are willing to fight with me, are you—a respectable man, the father of a family? After swindling me out of my money!
Casalonga.Swindling? That is no language to use in this house.
Valdivieso.I use it where I like.
Florencio.Gentlemen, gentlemen! This is my house, this is the house of my wife!
Zurita.Valdivieso!
Casalonga[to Florencio]. I choose you for my second. And you too, my friend—what is your name?
Valdivieso.But will you listen to him? Do you suppose that I will fight with this rascal, with the first knave who happens along? I, the father of a family?
Casalonga.I cannot accept your explanation. My friends will confer with yours and apprise us as to the details. Have everything ready for this afternoon.
Valdivieso.Do you stand here and sanction this nonsense? You cannot believe one word that he says. No doubt it would be convenient for you to retire and use me as a Turk's head to receive all the blows, when you are the one who ought to fight!
Florencio.Friend Valdivieso, I cannot permit reflections upon my conduct from you. After all, you need not have purchased the book, which you did for money, knowing that it was improper, since it contained matter which was offensive to me.
Valdivieso.Are you speaking in earnest?
Florencio.I was never more in earnest in my life.
Casalonga.Yes, sir, and it is high time for us all to realize that it is in earnest. It was all your fault. Nobody buys without spending the wares. It was your business to have pointed out to me the indiscretion I was about to commit. [To Florencio.] I am perfectly willing to withdraw if you wish to fight him, to yield my place as the aggrieved party to you. I should be delighted to act as one of your seconds, with our good friend here—what is your name?
Zurita.Zurita.
Casalonga.My good friend Zurita.
Valdivieso.Am I losing my mind? This is a trap which you have set for me, a despicable trap!
Florencio.Friend Valdivieso, I cannot tolerate these reflections. I am incapable of setting a trap.
Zurita.Ah! And so am I! When you entered this house you were familiar with its reputation.
Casalonga.You have forgotten with whom you are speaking.
Valdivieso.Nonsense! This is too much. I wash my hands of the whole business. Is this the spirit in which my advances are received? What I will do now is sell the book—and if I can't sell it, I will give it away! Everybody can read it then—and they can talk as much as they want to. This is the end! I am through.
Florencio.Wait? What was that? I warn you not to sell so much as one copy?
Zurita.I should be sorry if you did. Take care not to drag me into it.
Casalonga.Nor me either.
Valdivieso.Enough! Do as you see fit—and I shall do the same. This is the end—the absolute end! It is the finish!
[Rushes out.]
Florencio.Stop him!
Casalonga.It won't be necessary. I shall go to the shop and take back the edition. Whatever you intended to pay him you can hand directly to me. I am your friend; besides I need the money. This man shall not get the best of me. Oh! By the way, what are you doing to-night? Have dinner with me. I shall expect you at the hotel. Don't forget! If you don't show up, I may drop in myself and have dinner with you.
Florencio.No! What would my wife say? She has trouble enough.
Casalonga.Nonsense! She knows me, and we should have a good laugh. Is she as charming, as good-looking, as striking as ever? I am keen for her. I don't need to ask whether she is happy. Poor Patricio was a character! What a sight he was! What a figure! And age doubled him for good measure. I'll look in on you later. It has been a rare pleasure this time. There are few friends like you. Come, shake hands! I am touched; you know how it is. See you later! If I don't come back, I have killed my man and am in jail for it. Tell your wife. If I can help out in any way.... Good-by, my friend—ah, yes! Zurita. I have a terrible head to-day. See you later!
[Goes out.]
Florencio.Did you ever see anything equal of it? I never did, and I knew him of old. But he has made progress.
Zurita.His assurance is fairly epic.
Florencio.What are you going to do with a man who takes it like this? You cannot kill him in cold blood—
[Carolina reënters.]
Florencio.Ah! Carolina! Were you listening? You heard everything.
Carolina.Yes, and in spite of it I think he is fascinating.
Florencio.Since Carolina feels that way it simplifies the situation.
Zurita.Why not? She heard the compliments. The man is irresistible.
Florencio.Carolina, it comes simply to this: nobody attaches any importance to the matter. Only two or three copies have been sold.
Carolina.Yes, but one of them was to my sisters-in-law, which is the same as if they had sold forty thousand. They will tell everybody.
Florencio.They were doing it anyhow; there is no further cause for worry.
Carolina.At all events, I shall not attend the unveiling to-morrow, and you ought not to go either.
Florencio.But, wife!
Zurita.Ah! The unveiling.... I had forgotten to mention it.
Carolina.To mention what?
Zurita.It has been postponed.
Florencio.How?
Zurita.The committee became nervous at the last moment over the protests against the nudes. After seeing the photographs many ladies declined to participate. At last the sculptor was convinced, and he has consented to withdraw the statue of Truth altogether, and to put a tunic upon Industry, while Commerce is to have a bathing-suit.
Carolina.That will be splendid!
Zurita.All this, however, will require several days, and by that time everything will have been forgotten.
[Casalonga reënters with the books. He is completely out of breath and drops them suddenly upon the floor, where they raise a tremendous cloud of dust.]
Carolina.Ay!
Casalonga.I had you scared! At your service.... Here is the entire edition. I returned him his thousand pesetas—I declined to make it another penny. I told you that would be all that was necessary. I am a man of my word. Now it is up to you. No more could be asked! I am your friend and have said enough. I shall have to find some other outlet for my activities. That will be all for to-day.
Florencio.I will give you two thousand pesetas. But beware of a second edition!
Casalonga.Don't begin to worry so soon. With this money I shall have enough to be decent at least—at least for two months. You know me, señora. I am Florencio's most intimate friend, as I was Patricio's most intimate friend, which is to say one of the most intimate friends you ever had.
Carolina.Yes, I remember.
Casalonga.But I have changed since that time.
Florencio.Not a bit of it! He is just the same.
Casalonga.Yes, the change is in you. You are the same, only you have improved. [To Carolina.] I am amazed at the opulence of your beauty, which a fortunate marriage has greatly enhanced. Have you any children?
Carolina.No....
Casalonga.You are going to have some.
Florencio.Flatterer!
Casalonga.But I must leave before night: there is nothing for me to do here.
Florencio.No, you have attended to everything. I shall send it after you to the hotel.
Casalonga.Add a little while you are about it to cover expenses—by way of a finishing touch.
Florencio.Oh, very well!
Casalonga.That will be all. Señora, if I can be of service.... My good Zurita! Friend Florencio! Before I die I hope to see you again.
Florencio.Yes! Unless I die first.
Casalonga.I know how you feel. You take the worst end for yourself.
Florencio.Allow me that consolation.
Casalonga.God be with you, my friend. Adios! Rest in peace. How different are our fates! Life to you is sweet. You have everything—love, riches, satisfaction. While I—I laugh through my tears!
[Goes out.]
Carolina.That cost you money.
Florencio.What else did you expect? I gave up to avoid a scandal upon your account. I could see that you were nervous. I would have fought if I could have had my way; I would have carried matters to the last extreme. Zurita will tell you so.
Carolina.I always said that monument would cost us dear.
Florencio.Obviously! Two thousand pesetas now, besides the twenty-five thousand which I subscribed for the monument, to say nothing of my uniform as Chief of Staff which I had ordered for the unveiling. Then there are the banquets to the delegates....
Zurita.Glory is always more expensive than it is worth.
Florencio.It is not safe to be famous even at second hand.
Carolina.But you are not sorry?
Florencio.No, my Carolina, the glory of being your husband far outweighs in my eyes the disadvantages of being the husband of his widow.
[Curtain.]
Copyrighted, 1914, by Lucretia Xavier Floyd under the title of "A Morning of Sunshine."All rights reserved.