CHAPTER I
Sandoval—Sánchez Gómez’s “Toads”—Jacob and Jesús.
Manuel and Roberto left the station together.
“Are you going to begin your old life all over again?” asked Roberto. “Why don’t you make up your mind once and for all to go to work?”
“Where? I’m no good at hunting for a job. Do you know anything I could get? Some printing shop....”
“Would you be willing to go in as an apprentice, without any pay?”
“Yes. What will it be?”
“If you’ve no objections, I’ll take you this instant to the head of a certain newspaper. Come along.”
They ascended to the Plaza de San Marcial, then went on through the Calle de los Reyes to the Calle de San Bernardo; reaching the Calle del Pez they entered a house. They knocked at a door on the main floor; a scrawny woman appeared, informing them that the gentleman whom Roberto had called for was asleep and had left word not to be disturbed.
“I’m a friend of his,” answered Roberto. “I’ll wake him up.”