The note was for a hundred pesetas, and the skinny editor divided it with the corpulent, to the great indignation of Sampayo. The director vowed that he would not pay them a céntimo for months and months.
Once, Fresneda reduced to the final gasps of hunger, uttered the sole energetic sentence of his entire career.
“I’ll write you a recommendation to the Ministry,” the director had said to him, in answer to a request for money.
“To die of hunger, Señor de Sampayo,” Fresneda had replied, with a flash of independence not devoid of his proverbial finesse, “one does not require letters of recommendation.”
CHAPTER III
The Santa Casilda Hostelry—Jacob’s History—La Fea and La Sinforosa—The Motherless Child—A not Very Merry Christmas
By the time spring came around Manuel was setting type with ease. Somewhat later, the third compositor left, and Jesús advised the boss to let Manuel fill the vacancy.