“Where have you been?” asked Laura, on seeing him.
“I’ve been taking a walk with the abbe.”
“It’s evident that you find him more interesting than us women.”
“Preciozi is very interesting. He is a Machiavellian. He has a candour that is assumed and a dulness that is assumed. He plays a little comedy to get out of paying, at the café or in the tram. He is splendid. I think, if you will pardon me for saying so, that the Italians are damned close.”
“People that have no money are forced to be economical.”
“No, that isn’t so. I have known people in Madrid who made three pesetas a day, and spent two treating a friend.”
“Yes, out of ostentation, out of a desire to show off. I don’t like pretentious people.”
“Well, I believe I prefer them to skinflints.”
“Yes, that’s very Spanish. A man wasting money, while his wife and children are dying of hunger.... The man who won’t learn the value of money is not the best type.”
“Money is filthy. If it were only possible to abolish it!”