Doña Laura. Columbus must have carried you in one of his caravels.
Don Gonzalo [laughing]. Not quite as bad as that. I am old, I admit, but I did not know Ferdinand and Isabella. [They both laugh.] I was also a great friend of Campoamor. I met him in Valencia. I am a native of that city.
Doña Laura. You are?
Don Gonzalo. I was brought up there and there I spent my early youth. Have you ever visited that city?
Doña Laura. Yes, Señor. Not far from Valencia there was a mansion that if still there, should retain memories of me. I spent there several seasons. This was many, many years ago. It was near the sea, concealed among lemon and orange trees. They called it—let me see, what did they call it?—"Maricela."
Don Gonzalo [startled]. Maricela?
Doña Laura. Maricela. Is the name familiar to you?
Don Gonzalo. Yes, very familiar. If my memory serves me right, for we forget as we grow old, there lived in that mansion the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I assure you I have seen a few. Let me see—what was her name? Laura—Laura—Laura Lorente.
Doña Laura [startled]. Laura Lorente?
Don Gonzalo. Yes. [They look at each other strangely.]