THE WOMAN FROM MEXICO
II
up and recognized Luciano, who at one time had been a friend
of his.
He had never been very fond of Luciano, who had been
one of his old school companions; and during the last ten years
he had seen him perhaps once or twice a year. But, though he
did not like him, and in fact had no desire to see him, he had
never succeeded
in
breaking off this absurd and desultory re–
lationship. In reality he perceived in Luciano the personifica–
tion of a part of himself which he hated and which he would
willingly have got rid of if he had been able to. In person, they
were very much alike: both of them small and dark, with fine
features, both of them careful in their dress. But Luciano's face
bore the signs of vulgar dissipation, whereas Sergio's had a
gentle, rather melancholy expression. Luciano was pale, almost
grey in the face, with a bald forehead that stretched back be–
neath thin hair, and dull, lifeless eyes. Sergio had a fresh face,
thick, glossy hair, and a lively look in his eye. They were both,
as they say, of good family. But while Sergio lived with his
parents and worked as a lawyer in the office of his father,
also
a lawyer, Luciano had left home and lived in furnished rooms;
he did no work, but spent his time with people he picked up
all
over the place-variety actresses, professional gamblers, idle
young men. This world was quite as distasteful to Sergio as was
his old school friend in person. But, by some kind of incom–
prehensible fascination, both LU,?-iano's world and Luciano him–
self, though
repu~~nt-to-· h1fi1,-·also
attracted him, and he was
never able e---Co d-shoulder his friend when, at rare intervals,
he fell' with him. On these occasions they would remain in
each other's company for an evening, or a night, for dinner or
in some other place. Next day Sergio would feel humiliated at
the memory of the evening spent with his despicable friend and
would swear to himself that he would never allow such a thing
to happen again.
