He entered the town as the lights were being lit. He took no side turnings but kept to the main street so that the dogs should not hinder him.
“Keep straight on,” he said to himself, “past the Roumanian church, then I take the turning to the right till I get to the bridge and at the bridge I must ask my way.”
And at the bridge he asked his way, but they explained it in such a manner that he lost himself, and it was late before he reached the hostel. He bade good evening and asked rather diffidently whether there were anywhere he could sleep, and if there were something to eat.
The innkeeper entered into conversation with him, and learnt that Sandu came from the Dobre district, had done three years’ military service, and now was looking for a situation with some tanner.
“I have come,” Sandu spoke with difficulty, “to see if I can find a place here, for you see——”
“Who knows, perhaps you may,” the innkeeper interrupted him, and went out of the room.
“Should you say I shall find a place?” Sandu asked the innkeeper as he brought him some lard and a piece of bread.
“Oh, you may find one if you are good at your trade and hard-working.”
Sandu said nothing; the only word he could have uttered would have been to say, as he could have said, how hard he meant to work, and what kind of a man he was. But as he could not say this to the innkeeper he told himself what a lot of work he meant to do, and how well he meant to behave himself, as well as if he were a young girl.
Absorbed in thought, he ate at long intervals, and the innkeeper, seeing how silent he was, bade him put out the lamp and wished him a good night.