“Listen to this conversation,” said the poet. “It’s worth it.”
“But what does that man give you?” El Manano was saying to El Sardino, making strange grimaces with his sooty face, and waving his arms.
“He gives me nothing,” replied the other very seriously, “but he reports me.”
“He reports you! You must be easy!”
“It’s true.”
“But what good has it done you to know him?”
“It’s done me a lot of good, and I am grateful.”
“That’s almost like scratching a place to lie down in, comrade,” said El Manano meaningly.
“Well, I’m like that,” replied El Sardino. “Of course nothing gets ahead of me, and I always take my hat off so they can see the way my hair is parted.”
“You’ve told me that before.”