Part 29 (2/2)
”And when they're not doing any asphalting?”
”In some shelter or other.”
”All right, then. But what do you eat?”
”Whatever I'm given.”
”And do you manage to do well?”
Either the foundling did not understand the question or it appeared quite silly to him, for he merely shrugged his shoulders. Manuel continued his curious interrogatory.
”Aren't your feet cold?”
”No.”
”And don't you do anything?”
”Psch! ... whatever turns up. I pick up stubs, I sell sand, and when I can't earn anything I go to the Maria Cristina barracks.”
”What for?”
”What for? For a meal, of course.”
”And where's this barracks?”
”Near the Atocha station. Why? Would you like to go there, too?”
”Yes, I would.”
”Well, let's come along then, or we'll miss mess time.”
The two got up and started on their journey. The Orphan begged at the stores on the road and was given two slices of bread and a small coin.
”Will you have some, _ninchi?_” he asked, offering Manuel one of the slices.
”Hand it over.”
By the Ronda de Atocha they reached the Estacion de Mediodia.
”Do you know the time?” asked the Orphan.
”Yes. It's eleven.”
”Well then, it's too early to go to the barracks.”
Opposite the station a lady, from the seat of a coach, was making a speech proclaiming the wonders of a salve for wounds and a specific for curing the toothache.
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