“Oh, what a simpleton of a baby I have!”
Since Kate’s coming, Niña Chucha and Manuel ceased keeping the baroness company in the dining-room. This did not trouble Manuel in the least, but the mulattress was quite put out, and she attributed this arrangement to Kate, whom she considered a pale, proud doll, cold and heartless. Manuel, who had no reason for disliking Kate, found her very simple, very likeable, although lacking vivacity.
During the Christmas holidays mother and daughter often went out together on shopping tours; they were accompanied by Manuel, who returned loaded with bundles.
One day, shortly after the New Year, when the baroness, Kate and Manuel had gone to the Apolo Theatre to see “Captain Grant’s Nephews,” Manuel caught sight of Roberto Hasting following them at a certain distance. As they left the theatre, Roberto shadowed them; the girl pretended she had noticed nothing.
The next day, it was snowing. Manuel noticed Roberto walking across the Plaza del Oriente, seemingly very much engrossed.
Manuel sought a pretext under which to leave the house and Roberto at once came over to him.
“Are you in her house?” he asked hurriedly.
“Yes.”
“You must deliver a letter to her.”
“Certainly.”