THE WOMAN FROM MEXICO
29
"She
can't understand, anyhow," replied Albina, shrugging
her shoulders, "she only understands Spanish . . . She calls her–
self by a man's name-Consuelo."
"It's not a man's name, it's a woman's. It means Consola–
tion."
"Luciano's consoling himself with her because I've chucked
him,"
said Albina maliciously.
Sergio looked again at the couple opposite and noticed
that they scarcely spoke to each other. The Mexican woman
was eating composedly and Luciano addressed brief remarks to
her from time to time, illustrating his meaning with gestures of
his
hand. But
it
was a question of simple things: "Would you
like something to drink? ... D'you like that? ... Some bread?"
The waiter brought the
pasta asciutta
and Albina who, not–
withstanding her jealousy, had already swallowed a plateful of
salame, immediately rolled a huge tangled heap of spaghetti
round her fork and raised il to her moui.h without ever taking
her eyes off the Mexican woman. The latter made Luciano pour
out some wine for her and then drank, sending to her com–
panion, over the top of her glass, a signal of sentimental under–
standing, serious and almost ritual. Luciano, in turn, took the
glass from her hand and also drank, placing his lips where she
had placed hers. "Just look what a fool the man must be,"
muttered Albina furiously, her mouth full of spaghetti. She did
not, however, fail to empty her plate and, to finish up with,
mopped up what was left of the gravy with a hunk of bread.
"And then we'll go home," she said loudly, pushing away the
empty plate.
Sergio knew quite well that she was talking merely in order
to be overheard and possibly did not even know what she was
saying. However he could not resist answering: "But you said,
before, that you didn't want me."
"I've changed my mind now," said Albina loudly; "be–
sides I always liked you ... more than Luciano."
