DON GONZALO. Pardon me, Señora, but if you did not interfere with what does not concern you. DOÑA LAURA. I generally say what I think. DON GONZALO. And say more than you should. Give me the book, Juanito. JUANITO. Here it is, Señor. [_Juanito takes book from pocket, hands it to Don Gonzalo; then exits._] [_Don Gonzalo, casting indignant glances at Doña Laura, puts on an enormous pair of glasses, takes from his pocket a reading-glass, adjusts both to suit him, opens his book._] DOÑA LAURA. I thought you were going to take out a telescope now. DON GONZALO. What, again? DOÑA LAURA. Your sight must be fine. DON GONZALO. Many times better than yours. DOÑA LAURA. Yes, it is very evident. DON GONZALO. Many hares and partridges could bear testimony to my words. DOÑA LAURA. Do you hunt? DON GONZALO. I did, and even now-- DOÑA LAURA. Oh, yes, of course. DON GONZALO. Yes, Señora. Every Sunday I take my gun and dog, you understand, and go to one of my properties near Aravaca, just to kill time. DOÑA LAURA. Yes, to kill time. That is all you can kill. DON GONZALO. Do you think so? I could show you a wild boar's head in my study-- DOÑA LAURA. Yes, and I could show you a tiger's skin in my boudoir. What an argument! DON GONZALO. Very well, Señora, please allow me to read. I do not feel like having more conversation. DOÑA LAURA. Well, keep quiet then. DON GONZALO. But first I shall take a pinch of snuff. [_Takes out snuff box._] Will you have some? [_Offers box to Doña Laura._] DOÑA LAURA. If it is good? DON GONZALO. It is of the finest. You will like it. DOÑA LAURA [_taking pinch of snuff_]. It clears my head. DON GONZALO. And mine. DOÑA LAURA. Do you sneeze? DON GONZALO. Yes, Señora, three times. DOÑA LAURA. And so do I. What a coincidence! [_After taking the snuff, they await the sneezes, making grimaces, and then sneeze alternately three times each._] DON GONZALO. There, I feel better. DOÑA LAURA. So do I. [_Aside._] The snuff has made peace between us. DON GONZALO. You will excuse me if I read aloud? DOÑA LAURA. Read as you please; you will not disturb me. DON GONZALO [_reading_]. "All love is sad, but sad and all, it is the best thing that exists." That is from Campoamor. DOÑA LAURA. Ah! DON GONZALO [_reading_]. "The daughters of the mothers I once loved, kiss me now as they would kiss a wooden image." Those lines are in the humorous vein. DOÑA LAURA [_laughing_]. So I see. DON GONZALO. There are some beautiful poems in this book. Listen: "Twenty years have passed. He returns." DOÑA LAURA. You cannot imagine how it affects me to see you reading with all those glasses. DON GONZALO. Can it be possible that you read without requiring any? DOÑA LAURA. Certainly. DON GONZALO. At your age? You must be jesting.