Being the hour of departure for the Philharmonic ball, the conversation ceases and the important operation of paying for what has been consumed must be undertaken. When a party of Cubans meet at a public refreshment-room, settling the bill is a serious matter. Everybody aspires to the privilege, and everybody presents his coin to the waiter.
'Here, garçon! Take for all,' says one of the company, offering a golden doubloon to the attendant.
'Excuse me, I spoke first,' observes another, exhibiting a gold coin of about the size of a five-shilling piece.
'No, no; it was I,' protests a third; while others, with fingers in fobs, wink and shake their heads at the bewildered waiter as if to imply that one of them will settle with the 'mozo' in secret.
The mozo will not, however, accept payment from anybody.
'Está pago ya' (it is already paid for), he observes, and walks away.
The company are amazed. Who could have been guilty of the treacherous act? and how and when was it performed?
Presently one of the party rises and feigns impatience for his departure. He smiles, and all declare that he was the culprit. Subsequently, this individual leads the waiter into a dark corner of the café, where accounts are squared; by which we know that before the refreshments were ordered he had arranged with the garden about payment.
'Nada, chicos!' observes the successful payee, as we quit the café, 'otra dia tocará á ustedes.' (Never mind, my boys! it will be your turn another day.)