"We'll meet again, won't we?"
"Oh, yes, we'll see each other," replied Roberto.
Don Alonso picked up his phonograph and wound in and out among the
tables, repeating his phrase: "Novelty! Something new!" Then, after
having saluted Roberto and Manuel once more, he disappeared.
"Nothing. I can't discover a thing," grumbled Roberto. "Good-bye. See
you again."
Manuel was left alone, and musing upon Don Alonso's tales and upon the
mystery surrounding Roberto, he returned to the Corralon and went to
bed.
CHAPTER VII
The Kermesse on Pasion Street--"The Dude"--A Cafe Chantant.
Leandro eagerly awaited the kermesse that was to take place on Pasion
street. In former years he had accompanied Milagros to the nocturnal
fair of San Antonio and to those of the Prado; he had danced with her,
treated her to buns, presented her with a pot of sweet basil; but this
summer the proof-reader's family seemed very much determined upon
keeping Milagros away from Leandro. He had learned that his sweetheart
and her mother were thinking of going to the kermesse, so he procured
a pair of tickets and told Manuel that they two would attend.
So it happened. They went, on a terribly hot August night; a dense,
turbid vapour filled all the streets in the vicinity of the Rastro,
which were decorated and illuminated with Venetian lanterns.
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