24
ALBERTO MORAVIA
When they were outside again, Albina said to Sergio:
"Thank you . . . But don't go and tell Luciano it was you who
paid for it."
"What d'you take me for?"
They started looking into the shop windows again. Albina
paused for a long time in front of a shoe shop and then said:
"As
you spoilt a pair of shoes of mine by kicking my foot under
the table, you ought to buy me a new pair." Her tone was
playful, but not entirely so: Albina, sponger as she was, really
hoped to extort a present of a pair of shoes. Sergio hesitated a
moment, then decided that he would buy Albina the shoes.
Having bought the shoes, he would still have enough money
left for the dinner, but not for the customary present after the
act of love. He thought, however, that Albina would be content
with the shoes. She was looking at him hopefully. He said slow–
ly: "How on earth is it that Luciano, who is so very fond of you,
lets you go about in such terrible shoes?"
"I don't want anything out of Luciano."
"I suppose it's
you
who p.ay for
his
shoes?"
Albina did not choose to answer and Sergio concluded
that as he had always suspected, Luciano did not scruple to take
money from his mistresses. "Come along then," he said after a
moment; "let's go and buy these shoes."
Albina, by this time, had evidently given up hope of the
shoes, for she gave a brisk, joyful start of surprise. "Are you
talking seriouSily?"
"Yes, perfectly seriously."
They went into the shop. Albina was beside herself with
delight, as could
be
seen from the way in which she strutted
along like a peacock, her hips swaying, past
all
the mirrors and
piles of boxes. She sat down and extended her small, well-formed
foot to a fair-haired, talkative assistant. Sergio was surprised to
see that, of all the many shoes that the assistant diligently sug-
