Part 31 (2/2)
”I'm working on a newspaper, waiting until there's a vacancy. At the barracks I made friends with a sculptor who comes here for his meals, too, and we both live in a garret. I laugh at such things, for I am convinced that some day I'm going to be wealthy, and when I am, I'll recall these hard times with pleasure.”
”He's beginning to rave already,” thought Manuel.
”Then you don't believe that I'm going to be a rich man some day?”
”Certainly. Of course I do!”
”Where are you going?” asked Roberto.
”Nowhere in particular.”
”Let's take a stroll.”
”Come on.”
They walked down to Alfonso XII Street and went into the Retiro; when they had gone as far as the end of the carriage drive they sat down on a bench.
”We'll drive along here in a carriage when I become a millionaire,”
said Roberto.
”You mean you.... As for me....” replied Manuel.
”You, too. Do you imagine that I'm going to let you stand in the barrack's bread line when I have my millions?”
”He's truly a bit off his base,” thought Manuel, ”but he has a kind heart.” Then he added. ”Have your affairs been making much progress?”
”No, not much. The question is still pretty well tangled. But it will be straightened out, mark my word.”
”Do you know that that circus chap with the phonograph showed up one day with a woman named Rosa?” said Manuel. ”I went hunting for you to see whether she was the one you were talking about.”
”No. The one I was looking for is dead.”
”Then your case is all cleared up?”
”Yes. But I need money. Don Telmo was ready to lend me ten thousand duros on condition that I'd give him half of the fortune as soon as I entered into possession of it, if I won. But I refused.”
”How foolish.”
”What's more, he wants me to marry his niece.”
”And you didn't want to?”
”No.”
”But she's pretty.”
<script>