It was not at all rare for such hatreds, between persons forced almost
into living in common, to grow to violent rancour and malevolence;
thus, the members of one and the other family never looked at each
other without exchanging curses and wishes for the most disastrous
misfortunes.
CHAPTER III
Roberto Hastings at the Shoemaker's--Procession of Beggars--Court
of Miracles.
One morning toward the end of September Roberto appeared in the
doorway of _The Regeneration of Footwear_, and thrusting his head
into the shop exclaimed:
"Hello, Manuel!"
"Hello, Don Roberto!"
"Working, eh?"
Manuel shrugged his shoulders, indicating that the job was not exactly
to his taste.
Roberto hesitated for a moment, but at last made up his mind and
entered the shop.
"Have a seat," invited Senor Ignacio, offering him a chair.
"Are you Manuel's uncle?"
"At your service."
Roberto sat down, offered a cigar to Senor Ignacio and another to
Leandro, and the three began to smoke.
"I know your nephew," said Roberto to the proprietor, "for I live in
the house where Petra works."
"You do?"
"And I wish you'd let him off today for a couple of hours."
"All right, senor. All afternoon, if you wish."
"Fine. Then I'll call for him after lunch."
"Very well."
Roberto watched them work for a while, then suddenly jumped up and
left.
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