"We can talk here," murmured Roberto. "If any one comes along, let me
know."
"Don't worry on that score," assured Manuel.
"Well, as I was telling you, that conversation provided the foundation
of a fortune that will soon be mine; but see how clumsy a fellow can
be and how ill things look when they're too near. Until a full year
after I had had that conversation I made no attempt to start my case.
The first efforts I made about two years ago. The idea came to me on
one Carnival day. I was giving lessons in English and studying at the
University; of the little money I earned I had to send some to my
mother and the rest went toward my upkeep and my tuition fees. This
Carnival day,--a Tuesday, I remember,--I had no more than three
pesetas to my name; I had been working so hard and so steadily,
without a moment's let-up, that I said to myself: 'Yes, sir. Today I'm
going to do something foolish. I'm going to disguise myself. And
surely enough, on San Marcos Street I hired a domino and a mask for
three pesetas, and I went out on to the street with not a centimo in
my pocket. I began to walk down toward La Castellana and as I reached
the Cibeles fountain I stopped and asked myself in astonishment: 'Why
did I have to spend the little money I had on me for a disguise, when
I know nobody anyway?'
"I was about to return and get rid of my disguise, but there were so
many people in the crowd that I had to float with the tide.
Pages:
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210