They left the bun shop; the girls went off toward the heart of the city while Manuel and Vidal walked through the Calle de Ave María as far as the Calle del Olmo. Vidal opened the gate to his house.
“Here’s the place,” he said to Manuel.
They climbed to the top floor. There Vidal struck a match, thrust his hand underneath the door, drew forth a key and opened. They crossed a passageway, and Vidal said to Manuel:
“This is your room. See you tomorrow.”
Manuel took off his rags, and the bed seemed so soft to him that despite his weariness it was a long time before he fell asleep.