Out of curiosity Manuel hastened his step, and approached a group that
was discussing the event at the entrance to the Corralon.
"Where did this fellow come from that killed himself?" asked Manuel of
Aristas.
"Why! It was Leandro!"
"Leandro!"
"Yes, Leandro, who killed Milagros and then killed himself."
"But ... is this really so?"
"Yes, man. Just a moment ago,"
"Here? In the house?"
"On this very spot."
Manuel, quaking with fear, ran up the stairs to the gallery. The floor
was still stained with the pool of blood. Senor Zurro, the only
witness to the drama, was telling the story to a group of neighbours.
"I was here, reading the paper," said the old-clothes man, "and
Milagros and her mother were talking to Lechuguino. The engaged couple
were enjoying themselves, when up comes Leandro to the gallery; he was
about to open the door to his rooms when, before he went in, he
suddenly turned to Milagros. 'Is that your sweetheart?' he said to
her. It seemed to me that he was as pale as a corpse. 'Yes,' she
answered. 'All right. Then I've come here to end things once and for
all,' he shouted. 'Which of the two do you prefer, him or me?' 'Him,'
shrieks Milagros. 'Then it's all up,' cried Leandro in a hoarse voice.
'I'm going to kill you.' After that I can't recall anything clearly;
it was all as swift as a thunderbolt; when I ran over to them, the
girl was gushing blood from her mouth; the proof-reader's wife was
screaming and Leandro was chasing Lechuguino with his knife opened.
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