to have the play produced, but only an act of justice.  The young man said that this idea was exceedingly flattering, because Clotilde’s great talent and the accuracy of her judgments were well known to everyone, but that he dared not build upon such an illusion.  Clotilde declared that there were many unmerited reputations in the world, and one of them was hers, but that on this occasion she felt that she was on firm ground.

“The young man replied that when the river roars the water toils, and that when the whole world unites in admiring not only the exceptional beauty and artistic inspiration of a certain person, but also her splendid genius and brilliant intellect, it was necessary to bow one’s head.  Clotilde said that on this occasion she refused to bow hers, because she was quite convinced that the world was greatly mistaken regarding what it called her talent, which was nothing more nor less than pure instinct.  The young man cried out to heaven against such mystification, for which there was absolutely no excuse.  Then, promptly calming down, he declared himself profoundly moved by the modesty of his patroness, and swore by all the saints in heaven that he never had met her equal,—­with the result that the manuscript was momentarily gaining ground in the heart of our sympathetic friend, and that the young man, overwhelmed with emotion, took his leave of her until the following day.

“On the following day, Clotilde called upon the manager, and by threatening to break her contract, forced from him a promise to produce Inocencio’s play as soon as possible.  That same afternoon, the poet expressed his thanks to his patroness and promptly took her into his confidence.  He belonged to a distinguished provincial family, although without great financial resources.  It was in the hope of bettering them that he had come to Madrid, relying solely upon his genius.  In his native town they said that he had talent, and that if the verses which he had contributed to the Tagus Echo had been published in Madrid, he would be talked of as a second Nunez de Arce y Grilo.  He did not know whether that was so; but he felt that his heart was full of noble sentiments, and he loved the theater better than the apple of his eye.  Would he succeed in being an Ayala or a Tamayo?  Would he be rejected by the public?  It was an insoluble mystery to him.

“During this interview, Clotilde became convinced of two very important things:  namely, that Inocencio possessed a talent so great that his head could scarcely hold it, and secondly, that there was no one else in all Madrid who could wear so conspicuous a necktie with such charming effect.  I need not tell you that their confidential interviews increased in frequency, and that consequently Clotilde came day by day more completely under the fascinating influence of that supernatural necktie.  In the end, she yielded herself vanquished, and surrendered herself to it, bound hand and foot.  The necktie deigned to raise her from the ground and grant her the favor of its affection.”