“I was after that carriage, to carry up the gentleman’s trunk for him. But I’m exhausted. My legs are caving in.”
“And what are you doing?” asked Manuel.
“Pse!... Starving to death.”
“Better times haven’t come yet?”
“Will they ever come? Napoleon met his finish at Waterloo, didn’t he? Well, my life is one continuous Waterloo.”
“What are you doing now?”
“I’ve been selling smutty books. I ought to have one here,” he added, showing Manuel a pamphlet, the title of which read: “The Wiles of Women on The First Night.”
“Is that a good one?” asked Manuel.
“Oh, so so. Let me warn you beforehand that you’re supposed to read only every other line. To think of me, fallen to such things! I, who have been director of a circus in Niu Yoc!”
“Better times are coming.”