42
PARTISAN REVIEW
"Well, you had better find out."
"Yes, I want to," Rosa said. "I would see the midwife in my
neighborhood but I haven't got a single lira. I spent all I had
when I wasn't working, and I had to borrow carfare to get here.
Armando can't help me just now. He has to pay for his wife's teeth
this week. She has very bad teeth, poor thing. That's why I came
to you. Could you advance me two thousand of my pay so I can
be examined by the midwife?"
I must make an end to this, he thought. Mter a minute he
counted two one thousand lire notes out of his wallet. "Go to her
now," he said. He was about to add that if she was pregnant, not
to come back, but he was afraid she might do something desperate,
or lie to him so she could go on working. He didn't want her around
any more. When he thought of his wife and daughter arriving amidst
this mess, he felt sick with nervousness. He wanted to be rid of the
maid as soon as possible.
The next day Rosa came in at twelve instead of nine. Her dark
face was pallid. "Excuse me for being late," she murmured. "I was
praying at my husband's grave."
"That's all right," the professor said. "But did you go to the
midwife?"
"Not yet."
"Why not?" Though furious he spoke calmly.
She stared at the floor.
"Please answer my question."
"I was going to tell you I lost the two thousand lire on the bus,
but after praying at my husband's grave I will tell you the truth.
Mter
all,
it's bound to come out."
This is terrible, he thought, simply unending. "What did you
do with the money?"
"That's what I mean," Rosa sighed. "I bought my son a present
with the money. Not that he deserves it, but it was his birthday
.." She burst into tears.
He stared at her a moment, then said, "Please come with me."
The professor left the apartment in
his
bathrobe, and she fol–
lowed. Opening the elevator door with
his
key he stepped inside,
holding the door for her. Rosa entered the elevator.
