Part 6 (2/2)
”I'll raise that!”
”I renig!”
Now and then the players stopped for a drink, and a few daring bets brought out bursts of laughter.
”Whose deal, now?”
”Mine!”
All at once Amadeo, who was looking for some excuse to get into a row with the silversmith, cheated openly and took the pot. Manolo saw him cheat. Incensed, he threw his cards on the floor.
”Here now, that don't go!” he cried. ”I don't care if we _are_ friends, you can't get away with _that_!”
All the other players, angered, backed up the silversmith.
”No, sir! No, that don't go, here!” they echoed.
Very quietly the engineer demanded:
”Well, what have _I_ done?”
”You threw away this card, the five o' clubs,” replied Berlanga, ”and slipped yourself a king, that you needed! That's all. You're cheating!”
The engineer answered the furious insult of the silversmith with a blow in the face. They tackled each other like a couple of cats. Chairs and table rolled on the floor. Senor Tomas came running, and he and the other players succeeded in separating them. A crowd, attracted by the noise of the fight, gathered like magic. The tumult of these curiosity-seekers helped Amadeo hide his words as he and Manolo left the tavern. He said in his companion's ear:
”I'll be waiting for you in front of San Antonio de la Florida.”
”Suits _me_!”
And, a few minutes later, they met at the indicated spot.
”Let's go where n.o.body can see us,” said the engineer.
”I'll go anywhere you like,” answered Berlanga. ”Lead the way!”
They crossed the river and came to the little fields out at Fuente de la Teja. The shadows were thicker there, under the trees. At a likely-looking spot the two men stopped. Zureda peered all about him.
His eyes, used to penetrating dark horizons, seemed to grow calm. The two men were all alone.
”I've brought you here,” said the engineer, ”either to kill you or have you kill me.”
Berlanga was pretty tipsy. Brave in his cups, he peered closely at the other. He kept his hands in the pockets of his coat. His brow was frowning; his chin was thrust out and aggressive. He had already guessed what Zureda was going to ask him, and the idea of being catechized revolted his pride.
”It looks to me,” he swaggered, ”like you and I were going to have a few words.”
And immediately he added, as if he could read the thought of Zureda:
”They've been telling you I'm thick with Rafaela, and you're after the facts.”
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