The Governor's Wife/Act 3
Two boxes in the hull-ring at Moraleda. The Governor's box is upon the right, and is somewhat larger than the other, which is upon the spectator's left.
An usher is distributing programmes printed upon silk through the vestibules of the boxes. Don Trino and Damian unpack the lunch upon a table in the vestibule of the Governor's box.
Trino. Set the basket on the floor, the glasses go here. Have we everything?
Damian. Yes. I shall be back during the intermission to serve lunch—after the third bull.
Trino. [Going up to the box] How is the plaza? [Applause. Don Trino draws back hurriedly] Ah! They took me for the Governor and applauded me. They are ready to begin.
Damian. It's half an hour yet. The people in the sun come early, as the seats are not reserved. There's less enthusiasm than there was last year. Have a drop?
Trino. Demonio!
Damian. A bottle more or less. What difference does it make?
Trino. They'll see us from the boxes.
Damian. There's nobody in the boxes—the country people are still coming in. Too much excitement yesterday. It detracts from the interest.
Trino. Good wine! Very good wine
Damian. Everybody has timiditis. Did you notice the precautions in the plaza?
Trino. Well, what more do they wish? The most exacting should be satisfied. Liberty has triumphed. We have seen the play, and it turns out to be a good one. Yes, sir! Those who didn't like it, didn't like it, but the public has been heard from.
Damian. Yes, but how? On their way home they broke two windows in the café. At Don Baldomero's there isn't so much as a whole pane of glass.
Trino. He hasn't given up, though. Did you see the Abejorro?
Damian. And the Echo! This story about the secretary and the Governor's wife—Nothing else was talked of in the café this morning. Have another glass? [Offering wine.
Trino. No, thank you. It would never do to have it go to my head. This story—you can take it from me—it's a lie out of the whole cloth, a calumny. I come into contact daily with Doña Josefina and Don Manuel, yes, sir, and with the Governor himself, and I consider them all in their way decent people, very decent people—without meaning anything by it—among the most decent we have had in the Palace during the twenty years I have been in it, and we have had all sorts of people, including decent people. But politics have no heart. It is every one for himself and the devil for all of them. Poor Doña Josefina! She was crying all morning like a Magdalen.
Damian. No! She was?
Trino. She hides nothing from me. While she was combing her hair, she let fall such a tear!
Damian. But there are people who have seen the letters. You can read them in the papers.
Trino. You can, can you? How do you know they are not forgeries? Yes, sir!
Damian. [Much impressed] Ah! Very likely.
Trino. Take that French case for example: the scandal nearly disrupted the army; even generals were mixed up in it. All politics, of course. Talk about handwriting—I could fix up for you myself pretty much what you please. If I had had any leaning toward evil, as thank God I have had toward good, and I have never had reason to regret it—a quiet conscience is better than great riches—well, the fact is I could fix up for you pretty much what I pleased. But I have never taken advantage of this ability, no, sir, unless sometimes in jest. Now and then a man must have his jest. But there are people who think otherwise, who will go to any length in order to get money. Yes, sir! But Doña Josefina? Nonsense! She is innocent. If you could see her as I do every morning, sitting at the foot of the bed fixing the collars and cuffs on the Governor's shirt!
Damian. I wouldn't have believed it possible.
Trino. No, sir, I tell you people are malicious, evil-minded. For instance, I brought up a niece of my wife's out of charity from a very tender age, and everybody said… Believe me, there is more in these things than appears upon the surface. Yes, sir! I have had experience. Don Baldomero's daughter is in love with Don Manolo; her father is opposed to the match; then Josefina intervenes with Doña O, and she is offended by it; so to disillusion the girl, they invent the first slander that comes into their heads.
Noise in the plaza.
Damian. Caramba! They are growing impatient.
Trino. Yes, the sun is hot and they bring their wine-skins. They are warming up. [Looking into the box] Ah! Now they hiss me.
Damian. If it begins like this
Trino. What will the end be?
Josefina and Manolo enter.
Josefina. What is the matter? What are they hooting at?
Trino. Nothing, señora, the heat, the wine…
Josefina. [Seating herself at the table without entering the box] Ay! I never was so nervous. Everything upsets me.
Trino. And His Excellency the Governor? Did he come with you?
Manolo. No, he is in conference with the manager and the chief of the Guardia civil.
Josefina. We thought it best to be early so as to avoid the crowd. Have we long to wait?
Manolo. A few minutes.
Trino. We were setting out the refreshments.
Damian. Yes, the lunch. I shall be back during the intermission. With your permission, señora…
Goes out.
Trino. If there is nothing for me to do, I will retire also.
Josefina. Aren't you going to stay to see the fight?
Trino. Sí, señora, I have seats with my family.
Josefina. Gracious! Have you a family, Don Trino? I didn't know you were married.
Trino. I am a widower, sí, señora. I have a niece and three small children. At your service, señora.
Josefina. Why does he say at my service? A widower!… I hope there is not going to be any trouble.
Trino. I hope not, señora. It is only the people amusing themselves. If the toreros are good and the bulls fierce, all will be well; but if the bulls are bad, as they were last year—Good Lord! They will burn the plaza! At least that is the custom.
Manolo. It is?
Josefina. Barbarous!
Trino. Worse than barbarous; it is terrible! The spectacle itself is a savage one, sí, señora; but, believe me, the people, when they are aroused, are a thousand times more savage than the spectacle. Sí, señora.
Josefina. I don't think I shall enjoy it. I like the animation, the parade of the fighters, the entrance of the bull, but nothing else. The truth is, this year I didn't want to come…
Trino. No wonder. The circumstances—that is, the conditions… Ah! What a world we live in! Sí, señora! If you wish nothing more?
Josefina. No, no, nothing, Don Trino.
Don Trino goes out.
Manolo. [Looking into the plaza] There is a big crowd.
Josefina. There is? I am sorry to hear it. I wish there wasn't anybody at all. Give me a glass of water.
Manolo. Have a sandwich? A cake? Didn't you eat anything this morning? You look pale.
Josefina. No, I couldn't eat. I am so restless, so nervous.
Manolo. Why? It is quite unnecessary. I tell you we have won.
Josefina. Yes, it was all very well last night while the performance was going on—applause and cheers at the theatre; but this afternoon, after people have seen the papers, after they have had a chance to talk! On the way here everybody was reading the Abejorro. I could see them from the carriage.
Manolo. Yes, but everybody was indignant, as I thought. They say it is a calumny invented by Don Baldomero to revenge himself for the insults of last night.
Josefina. That may be. But didn't you hear? Esperanza made a scene this morning—I had it from the servants. She says she is going to marry you, and she is going to marry you immediately.
Manolo. If I thought that her parents— But no, let them keep her. Precious baggage! Where is Don Santiago? Has he said anything to you? Has he read the papers?
Josefina. I don't think so. He never reads the opposition papers. But that letter— If he ever sees that letter!
Manolo. Don Baldomero says that he is going to send it to the minister at Madrid.
Josefina. It would take more than that to shock García Pérez.
Manolo. Yes, he is shock-proof.
Josefina. But this afternoon! It is this afternoon I am afraid of.
Manolo. This afternoon you will have a triumph. Everything is provided for.
Josefina. Do you think so?
Manolo. You will see. When Campos comes to his speech, it will be a sensation. I have given it to him in writing and he is studying it in his dressing-room. He will say: "Your Excellency, I fight for you and for liberal governors like you, for virtuous and beautiful women like those who sit at your side, liberal also like yourself. For the bull is a reactionary, and he would be for obscuration wherever it was to be found." He will say this looking straight into the box of Don Baldomero. "And long live liberty!" It will be an ovation. If there is any trouble, we have packed the amphitheatre. He who protests… Have no fear, Josefina, the sovereign public is with us. If the bulls are only good and Campos in form so as to arouse the people, the victory is ours!
Josefina. I don't know. What do you want me to say? I am very much afraid.
The Marchioness of Torrelodones, Don Santiago and the Marquis of Torrelodones enter.
Santiago. We had better not show ourselves until the last moment.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. [To Josefina] How is it that you are so early?
Josefina. We were anxious to get ahead of the crowd. Later the men stand in two rows at the foot of the stairs
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Yes, but they don't say such things as they do in Madrid. [To Manolo] Are you very fond of bulls?
Manolo. I know very little about them. The sooner they are disposed of the more agreeable to me.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. I hope that everything will pass off smoothly.
Santiago. I know absolutely nothing about bulls. The mayor was to have presided this year as usual, but there was some trouble at the last minute—an unsavory dispute with the management. They refused to give him the contract to remove the carcasses and dead horses for his brother-in-law, so now I am obliged to assume the responsibility.
Marquis. We shall prompt you at the proper moment.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Remember when the picadors are on, Campos will give a signal. If he lays his finger beside his nose you are to call for banderillas. Three pairs will do, as you know, unless they miss; then give them four. Or if the bull is no good, two will be sufficient. It is all very simple. You will pick it up as you go along.
Marquis. In case you are uncertain what to do, the public will advise you. It is the safest way. If they shout "Hi, hi! Wake up there!" or "At him, Governor!" or
Santiago. Or call me idiot or fool, I suppose, or something worse? It is all very diverting. After the comedy of yesterday, the tragedy of to-day!
Marquis. Unfortunately the bulls have gone stale after four days in the corrals. It was a great mistake upon your part to postpone the corrida.
Santiago. That is right. Blame it on me! It will be my fault, I suppose, if they turn out to be cows.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Don Santiago, you must not say such a thing. You ought to see that mottled fellow, though. And we have another that is a wonder!
Marquis. Do you know, I can't keep Lucerito away from the littlest one?
Marchioness of Torrelodones. But I promised that Campos should kill him.
Marquis. What can I do?
Marchioness of Torrelodones. It is all our fault for not bringing the overseer along.
Manolo. Is this a pet bull?
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Oh, I took a fancy to him, so, naturally, I wished Campos to kill him. Sometimes one will take a fancy…
Josefina. For heaven's sake! What a fancy to take!
Santiago. I am in the hands of the Lord. In any event, it will be my last official act in the province.
Josefina. Eh?
Santiago. I have telegraphed my resignation.
Josefina and Manolo. Your resignation?
Marquis. Man! Why so hasty? It is not as bad as that. You take these trifles too seriously.
Santiago. Perhaps I do, my dear Marquis, But if the exigency had not been so great, I should have resigned long ago. Order must be preserved.
Josefina. But don't you see that without consulting me… without… Now people will believe… they will say… and it seems to justify them…
Santiago. What will they say? They have deceived me, you have deceived me. Everybody, everybody has deceived me!
Josefina. Santiago!
Santiago. Everybody! And I don't care to hear another word about it.
Josefina. [Aside to Manolo] He has seen the letter.
Manolo. [Aside to Josefina] No. He has read the Abejorro.
Josefina. [Aside to Manolo] His resignation! Now what are we going to do?
Manolo. [Aside to Josefina] Forget it! It will come out all right.
Belisa, Jimena, Don Basilio, Don Teodoro and Don Guillermo enter.
Teodoro. How charming you look to-day!
Belisa. Don Teodoro, you are a flatterer!
Jimena. We are too clever for you. When you are with us, you need not think that you have all the sport.
Guillermo. Are you going into Don Baldomero's box?
Basilio. They are and they are not.
Teodoro. The devil you say! How is that?
Basilio. It is our wish to remain neutral in these quarrels. My daughters are invited both by the Governor and by Don Baldomero; so, in order not to give offense
Jimena. I am going into the Governor's box.
Belisa. And I into Don Baldomero's.
Teodoro. Very clever indeed! But what are you going to do?
Basilio. I am going home when I leave them. These spectacles do not divert me; on the contrary, they disgust me. They make me despair of the future of this unfortunate land.
Teodoro. Bah! As long as we have the sun—and these ladies—we shall worry along.
Jimena. Thank you for including us.
Guillermo. Were you at the theatre last evening?
Basilio. They were and they were not.
Teodoro. Good! One was and the other was not? An excellent idea!
Belisa. Jimena was there.
Jimena. It was very exciting.
Teodoro. Tut, tut, there was nobody there but men.
Jimena. You seemed to enjoy it.
Teodoro. We are invited to sit with Don Baldomero.
Basilio. I must leave Jimena with Josefina.
Belisa. Goodness, papa! Not before the ladies arrive. It would never do for me to be left alone with these gentlemen. [To Don Teodoro and Don Guillermo] Not with your reputations!
Teodoro. I assure you we shall be judicious.
Basilio. Nonsense! Don Teodoro is old enough to be your father. He might be for all you know.
Belisa. Why, papa!
Teodoro. He might and he might not.
Basilio. Come with me, Jimena. Good-by, my dear. Remember, we meet in front of the Palace.
Belisa. [Going into the box] What a magnificent sight!
Teodoro. Did you ever see a woman look ugly in a mantilla? [To Guillermo] Lend me your glasses; they magnify better than mine do.
Josefina. Jimena!
Santiago. How charming you look to-day!
Basilio. I am leaving her with you.
Santiago. But you? Aren't you going to stay?
Basilio. No. I do not care for these spectacles. On the contrary, they disgust me. Good day.
Jimena. Good-by, papa.
Don Basilio goes out.
Josefina. But where is Belisa?
Jimena. Belisa is in the next box.
Josefina. Oh! With the Remolinos?
Jimena. Yes, they invited us both, but, of course, we both preferred to come with you. So in order not to give offense, we had to draw lots, and I was the more fortunate.
Josefina. It is very kind of you to say so.
Doña O, Esperanza and Don Baldomero enter.
Baldomero. We have plenty of time.
Esperanza. Is that the reason you kept shouting at me, "Hurry up! Hurry up!"?
Baldomero. What else could I do, my dear, with you trying on seven dresses and fourteen mantillas, without getting anywhere with any of them?
Esperanza. The result is I look like a fright.
Doña O. You are too much for your papa and mamma. I cannot stand this any longer, now that Petronila has left. She will never do our hair for us again after the way you have treated her.
Esperanza. I don't care if she doesn't, mamma. If you are going to talk all afternoon, I might as well sit with Josefina.
Doña O. This is too much. That a child should strike her parent such a blow!
Baldomero. Esperanza, listen to me. No more of your nonsense! I forbid you to notice anybody in the next box. I intend to create a scandal in the plaza.
Esperanza. A scandal? So that is what you brought me here for?
Doña O. Nothing of the sort. We wanted to get somewhere where there'd be more noise than you could make.
Baldomero. Now don't begin to cry. Come on into the box.—How do you do, gentlemen?
Teodoro. Baldomero!
Belisa. How charming you look to-day!
Teodoro. Wonderful! Superb!
Esperanza. And Jimena?
Belisa. Oh! She is with Josefina. They invited us both. Of course, we both preferred to come with you, so in order not to give offense, we had to draw lots, and I was the more fortunate.
Doña O. Did you have to draw lots last night to see who was to go to the theatre?
Belisa. I should think we did. And poor Jimena was sacrificed!
Baldomero. I suppose you were there?
Teodoro. Don Baldomero! Between the acts, as it were, out of curiosity—to see who was in the audience. I never heard such shouting and yelling, booing and hissing, over nothing as it seemed to me.
Doña O. They broke all our windows when they came out.
Esperanza. I lost some lovely double geraniums which I had on my balcony.
Baldomero. And all in the name of Liberty!
Doña O. All because we have an idiot for a governor who does not even know how to govern his wife!
Baldomero. He cannot control his wife, yet he expects to rule a province.
Esperanza. Papa, be careful! They'll hear us. They are in the next box.
Doña O. That is the reason he speaks so loudly,
Baldomero. We want them to hear.
Josefina. [To Manolo] Are they there yet? Listen…
Manolo. Yes. I hear Don Baldomero.
Josefina. And I hear his wife. They may drive my husband back to Madrid, but before they do, I promise you that they will hear from me. Oh, they will hear from me!
Manolo. How lovely you are when you are angry! How lovely you always are!
Josefina. And you are like the people—too forward. I shall have to suspend the constitutional guarantees.
Doña O. Sit down by me, Belisa. [To Esperanza] You sit on this side.
Belisa. I warn you, I shall scream the whole afternoon. Only think! The bull may catch a man!
Teodoro. It must seem incredible—I mean, he may, he may.
Santiago. It is time to begin. We had better pass in. The ladies on this side…
Marquis. Yes, as far from Your Excellency as possible. Otherwise it might deprive the public of the freedom to protest.
Santiago. Do you think so? Perhaps we had best all sit together…
Josefina. Come, Carmen! Come, Jimena!
Polito and Reguera enter.
Polito. This is not a box, Reguera—it is a garden of flowers.
Ladies. Thank you! Thank you so much!
Marquis. Are you in costume, Polito? Do you expect to qualify in the corrida?
Santiago. Remain by me, gentlemen. You understand these things better than I do. I never presided over anything in my life except the Provincial Deputation.
Commotion in the arena.
Marquis. It is time to begin.
Santiago. Good! Pass in.
They enter the box; the Governor gives the signal. Trumpet.
Josefina. [To Manolo] No applause at the entrance of my husband? A bad sign!
Manolo. Wait. They are holding back.
Hisses.
Josefina. Ah! They hiss.
Manolo. It's the alguacil. He has lost a stirrup.
Josefina. Ay! But they have rattles! They are shaking them at me.
Grand march and entrance of the toreros. Loud applause.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Campos! There's Campos! How graceful that man is in the arena! He is wearing my cloak.
Polito. He has a new suit.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. The first time of everything.
The Marchioness of Villaquejido and Teresa enter.
Marchioness of Villaquejido. We are late.
Teresa. The parade has begun. Hurry, I like a fine entrance… How do you do? Gracious! What a crowd! Isn't it stirring?
Doña O. Come right in.
Santiago. You throw the key, Polito. I'll be sure to hit somebody on the head.
Marchioness of Villaquejido. Did Josefina come with her husband?
Doña O. Yes, they are in the next box. Who ever heard of such effrontery? Exhibiting herself in public after what happened this morning! Never mention her to me again.
Marchioness of Villaquejido. Never mention her to me.
Trumpet. Applause.
Marquis. Ah! Ah! What do you think of him?
Polito. I can't see the animal.
Marquis. Didn't I tell you?
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Beautiful! Divine! By Marrullero out of La Pintada, isn't he, papa?
Marquis. You understand these things better than I.
Teodoro. [To Don Guillermo] Can you tell me who that buxom blonde is in the front row of Section Eight?
Guillermo. Who is she? Oh… [In Teodoro's ear.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Everybody knows who she is.
Marquis. Now for some sport.
Polito. The picadors!
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Why doesn't Campos throw off that cloak?
Polito. Why doesn't he? I wonder.
Reguera. How would you like to be in the ring now?
Marquis. The fools! Look! Look! They'll murder the bull
Santiago. But what are they there for?
Baldomero. You needn't tell me that is a bull. It is from the herd of that marquis from Madrid? Ha! It must be from Madrid!
Teodoro. It looks to me like an ox.
Guillermo. [Shouting] Ox!
Teresa. What makes you call him an ox?
Marchioness of Villaquejido. Don't ask foolish questions, Teresa.
Marquis. What are they doing? What a way to begin!
Belisa and Jimena. [Screaming] Oh! Oh! He'll catch him, he'll kill him!
Josefina. That wasn't so bad after all.
Doña O. Don't scream like that. There is no reason for you to be afraid.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. What is the matter with Campos? Why don't they go at him the right way?
Reguera. I'll give him a tip…
Polito. Don't shout down from here.
Josefina. How absurd! He is running away.
Manolo. Good afternoon, he says, that will be all for to-day.
Santiago. When a bull won't fight, what are you going to do?
Marquis. Who says he won't fight? They don't give him a chance. They don't go at him the right way. Ha! Send that rascal to jail! He'll injure the animal. What does he get paid for?
Cries and hooting in the arena. "Back to the pen!" "Give him torpedoes!"
Santiago. They call for torpedoes.
Marquis. It will be a damned outrage, sir, if you give them torpedoes.
Santiago. Ah! Another discussion!
Polito. Take care! He may strike you. The Marquis is capable of anything when it comes to his bulls.
Santiago. That would be the last indignity. Does he expect me to go down into the arena and pull him out by the tail? There you are! [Rhythmic hand-clapping. Palmas de tango] What is that?
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Palmas de tango, the latest thing in Madrid.
Polito. Yes, I introduced it here last season myself.
Marquis. With the first automobile. I suppose that was the fault of the bull. Look! Look! What a way to handle a lance!
Tremendous uproar. "Torpedoes! Torpedoes!" Hisses. "What's the matter?" "Wake up there! Wake up!"
Josefina. Didn't I tell you?
Manolo. The bull has settled down for a nap.
Santiago. Now what am I to do?
Teodoro. Shoot him, I say.
Baldomero. He must have influence with the liberal party. He is gubernatorial.
The uproar increases.
Jimena and Belisa. Ay! Ay! He'll catch him, he'll kill him!
Josefina. Don't you hear the people, Santiago?
Santiago. Don't you see the Marquis, Josefina?
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Campos gives the signal.
Santiago. The signal for what? The benediction?
Marquis. For the banderillas.
Santiago. What banderillas? With torpedoes?
Marquis. How torpedoes?
Marchioness of Torrelodones. It doesn't matter. Let Campos fix the torpedoes. He will make it all right with the people.
Santiago. Good! The banderillas! Ah! Now she is the one to blame.
He gives the signal. Trumpet. Hisses, followed by applause.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. No wonder. As soon as he saw the banderillas…
Marquis. Ha! That bull can never bear fire.
Santiago. No, he is more accustomed to drawing water.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. There! See him turn! Beautiful…
Torpedoes.
Jimena and Belisa. Ay! Ay! Ay!
Josefina. Holy Mother! What nerves!
Applause.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. A hit! A hit! He threw in a pair! [Applause] Another! Another! I shall go out of my head.
Jimena and Belisa. Ay! Ay! Ay!
Santiago. It is coming out all right after all.
Marquis. Give the signal to kill.
Santiago. To kill? What a pity!
He gives the signal. Trumpet.
Manolo. Now for the speech. Aha, Don Baldomero! Your time has come. Now for the verdict of the people.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. I wonder what he is going to say. Something gallant, of course. Campos is so clever at making speeches… Everywhere he goes, it is the same…
Campos. [Within] Your Excellency… liberal… beautiful… ladies… liberal also like yourself… And long live liberty!
Great ovation. Vivas to liberty. Vivas for the Governor, vivas for the Governor's wife.
Marquis. Bow, bow! And you bow! All bow!
Baldomero. What a farce! This is intolerable! I will not submit to it.
He rises from his seat; cries of "Death to the reactionaries!" "Down with obscuration!" Hisses.
Manolo. I wonder who is getting his now.
Doña O. But it is not for you? It is not for us?
Esperanza. Ay, papa! It is for us!
Marchioness of Villaquejido. The ruffians!… No, no! Impossible!
Belisa. An insult! To you?
Doña O. Disgusting! Come! They are hooting my husband. There is no respect, no decency anywhere.
Baldomero. I will teach them a lesson! I will show them! This was all put up beforehand.
Teodoro. There must be some mistake.
Marquis. The bull is cooling off!
Doña O. No, no. Don't speak to me! Let us go! Let us go!
Marchioness of Villaquejido. And we shall go with you.
Belisa. Yes, indeed, Doña O!
Doña O, Esperanza, Teresa, Belisa, the Marchioness of Villaquejido and Don Baldomero go out.
Teodoro. Well, they are gone. I must say I am glad of it.
Guillermo. Now we can enjoy ourselves.
Teodoro. It served them right. There is no doubt where the people stand.
Voices: "Riego! Riego! The 'Hymn of Riego'!"
Santiago. They are calling for the "Hymn of Riego."
Marquis. The bull is cooling off!
Uproar. Cushions thrown and missiles. A bottle strikes the side of the box and breaks above the heads of the ladies.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. How can they expect Campos to kill the bull when they throw things like that?
Voices: "Riego! Riego!"
Santiago. Where is the speaking-tube? Ah!…
Marquis. Tell them to play the "Hymn of Riego."
Santiago. Of course. [Through the tube] The "Hymn of Riego"! Yes, tell them to play the "Hymn of Riego."
Manolo. What do they say?
Santiago. Another complication! They don't know it.
A second bottle.
Josefina. I wish they would stop throwing those bottles. Somebody is going to get hurt.
Santiago. [Through the tube] Hello! The Herald! Yes, send for the Herald. Tell him to announce that the band can't play the "'Hymn of Riego," because it doesn't know it, but it will learn it by to-morrow. How is that?
All. Good! Good!
Santiago. Now see if they won't be quiet.
Manolo. [To Josefina] Don Baldomero has left—and his family with him. What did I tell you?
Josefina. You are a genius.
Manolo. Only that? I am a friend…
The voice of the Herald is heard.
Herald. Ladies and gentlemen: The band can't play the "Hymn of Riego" because it doesn't know it, but it will learn it by to-morrow, so as to be able to play it hereafter whenever required.
Drum. Applause. Distant "Vivas."
Marquis. Bow! Bow! All bow!
Ovation.
Santiago. Really, I am very much affected. The people—more than the people, the entire community acclaims a man when he has had the courage to do his duty.
Josefina. And to whom do you owe this triumph, Santiago? Who gave you advice?
Santiago. You—yes, you—one way or the other, but you always gave me advice! Now we shall have to wait for them to clear the arena. It seems incredible that they could have thrown so many things in such a little while.
Manolo. My only regret is that no one was hit.
Marquis. The bull is cooling off.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Poor Campos! They won't give him a chance.
The Clerk enters.
Santiago. What is the matter?
Clerk. A telegram for Your Excellency.
Santiago. Here! Give it to me.
Josefina. From Madrid?
Santiago. Yes. You open it, Manolo. I am so nervous. Everything upsets me to-day.
Manolo. The reply. Just as I thought. [Reading] "Crisis imminent. Ministry more strongly liberal."
Santiago. Eh?
Manolo. "Government refuses to accept resignation. Congratulates you upon your liberal campaign and offers governorship of the first class."
Santiago. Of the first class! Josefina!
Marquis. Felicitations.
Polito. Best wishes!
Santiago. Embrace me! And you! And you!
He embraces all the ladies.
Jimena. We didn't come for nothing after all.
Josefina. You see how it is! If it hadn't been for me, where would you have been? And yet you allowed yourself to doubt, yes, perhaps even to suspect me! If you only knew what I have gone through with for you!
Santiago. And I for you! But doubt you? Believe those calumnies? Never, Josefina! Never!
Josefina. Now you talk like a man. I knew that some day you would do me justice.
Polito. Of the first class! Of the first class! Come! Come! We must celebrate. Some wine!
Santiago. Bring wine!
Teodoro. [Entering the box] We must celebrate with you. We are all one now; there are no divisions among us any more. [All laugh] What a bevy of beautiful ladies! And here's to you! [They drink. General laughter.
Marquis. The ring is clear. Campos is after the bull.
All. The bull! The bull!
Teodoro. A fine pass.
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Did you see him turn? What a feint! Again! Again! I shall go out of my head!
Polito. Now he'll show us.
Santiago. The critical moment.
Jimena. Ay! Ay! Ay!
All. Hurrah! Hurrah! Dead without a struggle! Bravo! Bravo!
Marchioness of Torrelodones. How was that? How was that? [Applause. Voices: "What's the matter with you?" "Hi, there!" "Wake up!"] What is the matter? What are you waiting for? Stand up!
Santiago. I? Stand up? Ah! What an afternoon! What a festival! A people that within half an hour hisses me, applauds me, shouts vivas in the name of liberty, acclaims a bull-fighter, cheers the ladies, then falls to hissing and then to applaud again—oh! how is such a people to be governed by mere man?
Manolo. Nothing could be easier. Like ladies and toreros, the people cannot be governed; they must be entertained.
Marquis. Don Santiago! The second bull!
Santiago. Great heaven! It may spoil everything. Ah, Manolo, in my emotion I forgot to thank you! Whatever my destiny, wherever I may be, I want you always to remain with me, I want you always to be at my side.
Manolo. Don Santiago!
Santiago. I can never repay you. In these days of trial, you have been the real governor, you, you have taken my place.
Manolo. Don Santiago!
Uproar. Cries in the arena.
Marquis. The second bull!
They re-enter the box. Applause. Santiago gives the signal.
Manolo. [To Josefina, who remains below] Well, are you satisfied? Do I deserve your confidence, your respect?
Josefina. I don't know… You torment me, you… [Trumpets] Ay! What a shock!
Manolo. You are nervous.
Josefina. I am nervous, I confess it. I don't know how to thank you. You have sacrificed, you are about to sacrifice so much for me—your future, your…
Manolo. My future? It is for you to decide. Shall I return to Madrid? Shall I accept the offer of Don Santiago?
Josefina. What shall I say?
Marquis. A hit! A hit! Ha! A home thrust!
Marchioness of Torrelodones. Josefina!… Bravo! Bravo! Break away! Break away!
Josefina. Accept
Marchioness of Torrelodones. I wonder what that fellow is up to?
Tremendous applause. Ovation. "Music! Music!"
Curtain