“Now I have tired you in speaking of myself and my affairs; now you must reciprocate, as a good friend, and tell me all about yourself.”
“I can do that in a few words: I am slowly continuing my course of study and with more or less of difficulty and labor gain my bread.”
“Spartan! You do wrong not to confide in me. Am I to understand that you desire nothing? that you do not care to better your condition?”
“I do not say so; I desire many things; I desire to escape from poverty; but, I am content with my situation.”
“What a fool you are! I could do much for you, because I love you well, and I would willingly offer you more than one chance of improving your condition.”
“I thank you for your good will but I see no means of taking advantage of it.”
“See Paco, let us speak frankly; notwithstanding your assertion that you are content with your situation, I cannot believe it; the fact is that you are very proud, that you do not care to ask anything from anyone; that is all right with strangers, but when I, your school-fellow and friend, anticipate your desires and offer——”
“I thank you and beg you to respect my freedom of action.”
“What a hard-shell you are! Come, consent to this anyway—separate yourself from the Independiente; I promise to supply resources for you to found a paper of your own, which will bring you at least double what Don Marcos can pay you, and also to secure you a grant to aid you in your studies, and, if you desire more, you shall have more.”
“But, truly, I desire nothing; I owe consideration to Don Marcos and cannot treat him cavalierly,” said Paco, at the same time saying to himself, “Oho, now I see!”