"The fact is, we
came here to ask this fellow a civil question, and without any reason
at all he began to yell and insult me."
"I'll smash your face for you!" interjected Tabuenca.
"Well suppose you try it, and don't stand there talking all day about
it!" Roberto taunted,
"Rascal! Coward!"
"It's you who are the coward. You've got as little guts as you have
nose."
Tabuenca spat out a series of insults and blasphemies, and turning
around, left the place.
"And who's going to pay me for this broken lantern?" asked the
mule-driver.
"How much is it worth?" asked Roberto.
"Three pesetas."
"Here they are."
"That Tabuenca is a loud-mouthed imbecile," said the mule-driver as he
took the money. "And what was it you gentlemen wished?"
"I wanted to ask about a woman that lived here some years ago; she was
an acrobat."
"Perhaps Don Alonso, Titiri, would know. If you'll be so kind, tell me
where you're going, and I'll have Titiri look you up."
"All right. You tell him that we'll be waiting for him at the San
Millan cafe at nine o'clock," said Roberto.
"And how are we going to recognize this fellow?" asked Manuel.
"That's so," said Roberto. "How are we going to know him?"
"Easy. He goes around nights through the cafes with one of those
apparatuses that sings songs."
"You mean a phonograph?"
"That's it.
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