“We’ll see. We’ll see,” replied the old gentleman. The trio took their departure.
“What’s your name?” asked Jesús of the girl.
“Me? Salvadora.”
“Do you want to come and live with me, together with your little brother?”
“Yes,” replied the lass, without a moment’s hesitation.
“Very well, then, let’s be going. Get up. La Fea will be happy to have them,” said Jesús, as if to give an explanation of his impulse. “Otherwise they’ll separate this little girl from her brother, and that would be an outrage.”
The lass took the babe in her arms and followed Jesús. La Fea must have received the two forsaken children with intense enthusiasm. Manuel was not present, for a young man had stopped him in the corridor.
“Don’t you know me?” he asked directly in front of Manuel.
“Of course, man.... You’re El Aristón.”
“That’s me.”