The three girls approached them, and Lechuguino invited
Milagros to dance. Leandro glanced in anguish at his sweetheart; she,
however, whirled off heedlessly. The band was playing the _pas
double _from the _Drummer of the Grenadiers_. Lechuguino was
an expert dancer; he swept his partner along as if she were a feather
and as he spoke, brought his lips so close to hers that it seemed as
if he were kissing her.
Leandro was at an utter loss and suffered agonies; he could not make
up his mind to leave. The dance came to an end and Lechuguino
accompanied Milagros to the place where her mother was sitting.
"Come. Let's be going!" said Leandro to Manuel. "If we don't, I'm sure
to do something rash."
They escaped from the fair and entered a cafe chantant on Encomienda
Street. It was deserted. Two girls were dancing on a platform; one
dressed like a _maja_, the other, like a _manolo_.
Leandro, absorbed in his thoughts, said nothing; Manuel was very
sleepy.
"Let's get out of here," muttered Leandro after a short while. "This
is too gloomy."
They walked to the Plaza del Progreso, Leandro with head bowed, as
pensive as ever, and Manuel so sleepy that he could hardly stand.
"Over at the Marina cafe," suggested Leandro, "there must be a high
old time."
"It would be better to go home," answered Manuel.
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