IN THE STREET
José Dias was so pleased with himself that his manner changed completely: normally composed in the street, he was now nervous and preoccupied. Restless and talkative, he made me stop in front of every noticeboard or theatre bill. He told me the plot of various plays, reciting some of the monologues in verse. He attended to all his business, paid bills and collected the rent from the tenants; for himself he bought a twentieth share of a lottery ticket. Finally his natural gravity vanquished his present levity, and he began to speak with greater deliberation, using the customary superlatives. Not realizing that this was a natural transformation, I was afraid he had gone back on our agreement and addressed him with ingratiating words and gestures until we got into the bus.