The agent retired to his room, summoned the landlady, and told her
that he refused to remain another moment as long as Petra's son was in
the house.
The landlady, whose chief interest was to retain her boarder,
communicated her decision to her servant.
"Now see what you've done. You can't stay here any longer," said Petra
to her son.
"All right. That clown will pay for these," replied the boy, nursing
the welts on his forehead. "I tell you, if I ever meet him I'm going
to smash in his head."
"You take good care not to say a word to him."
At this moment the student happened to enter the dining-room.
"You did well, Manuel," he exclaimed, turning to Petra. "What right
had that blockhead to insult him? In this place every boss has a right
to attack his neighbour if he doesn't do as all the others wish. What
a cowardly gang!"
As he spoke, Roberto blanched with rage; then he grew calm and asked
Petra:
"Where are you going to take Manuel now?"
"To a cobbler's shop that belongs to a relative of mine on Aguila
street."
"Is it in the poorer quarters?"
"Yes."
"I'll come to see you some day."
Before Manuel had gone to bed, Roberto appeared again in the
dining-room.
"Listen," he said to Manuel. "If you know any strange place in the
slums where criminals get together, let me hear.
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