THE WOMAN FROM MEXICO
35
room, others were looking in at the door, and all were asking
what had happened. Finally Luciano called the waiter, paid the
bill and, beckoning to the Mexican, left the restaurant with her.
The waiters and the musicians went away. Albina, breath–
less, sat down again and started wiping off the wine with her
table-napkin. Some of the wine had fallen on her belly, and her
undergarment, sticking to it, revealed its plump, childish ro–
tundity. "I told you," said Sergio, "I told you it would be
better not to stay here."
To his surprise he saw that Albina's rage had completely
subsided. She asked him: "Do you like me?"
"Yes," said Sergio, disturbed.
"D'you want to go to bed with me?"
"Of course I do."
"Well then, just think about that and don't bother with
anything else."
Sergio was sure now that Albina would give herself to him
that night, even
if
only in order to avenge herself on Luciano.
Their little room was empty now, and from the adjoining room
they could not be seen. He put his
arm
round Albina's waist
and drew her towards him to kiss her.
This
time she allowed
herself to be kissed, and in the end, as
if
with a sudden kindling
of her senses, she returned his kiss with rapture. She smelled
strongly of wine, in a way, however, that was not repugnant
but rather naive and helpless. When they drew apart again,
Albina, pulling up the fastening of her shirt, said: "Well then,
shall we
go?"
Sergio paid and they went out. It had stopped raining now,
and the black paving-stones in the streets were gleaming under
the light of the lamp-posts; the air was exhausted and flat. But
it was warm, warmer than before; and again Sergio looked
forward with relief to the moment when he would undress in
Albina's room. The latter was walking at some distance from
