"That's the talk," stammered Bizco.
"All right. I'll see," responded Manuel unwillingly.
"What do you mean, you'll see? The gang's already formed. We'll call it the gang of The Three."
"Fine!" shouted Bizco.
"And we'll help each other?" inquired Manuel.
"Of course we will," assured his cousin. "And if any one of us should prove a traitor…."
"If any one proves a traitor," interrupted Bizco, "his guts'll be ripped out." And to lend force to his declaration he drew out his dirk and plunged it viciously into the table.
At nightfall the three returned by the road to the Toledo bridge and separated at that point, after arranging to meet on the morrow.
Manuel wondered just what he was committed to by the promise made to be a member of The Three. The life led by Bizco and Vidal frightened him. He must resolve to turn over a new leaf; but what was he to do? That was what puzzled him.
For some time Manuel did not dare to put in an appearance at the lodging-house; he would meet his mother in the street and he slept in the entry of the house where one of his sisters was employed. Later it came to pass that the landlady's niece was found in the bedroom of a neighbouring student, and this served to rehabilitate Manuel somewhat in the boarding-house.