Itwasverylateandeveryonehadleftthecafeexceptanoldmanwhosatintheshadowtheleavesofthetreemadeagainsttheelectriclight.Inthedaytimethestreetwasdusty,butatnightthedewsettledthedustandtheoldmanlikedtositlatebecausehewasdeafandnowatnightitwasquietandhefeltthedifference.Thetwowaitersinsidethecafeknewthattheoldmanwasalittledrunk,andwhilehewasagoodclienttheyknewthatifhebecametoodrunkhewouldleavewithoutpaying,sotheykeptwatchonhim.

“Lastweekhetriedtocommitsuicide,”onewaitersaid.

“Why?”

“Hewasindespair.”

“Whatabout?”

“Nothing.”

“Howdoyouknowitwasnothing?”

“Hehasplentyofmoney.”

Theysattogetheratathatwascloseagainstthewallnearthedoorofthecafeandlookedattheterracewheretheswereallemptyexceptwheretheoldmansatintheshadowoftheleavesofthetreethatmovedslightlyinthewind.Agirlandasoldierwentbyinthestreet.Thestreetlightshoneonthebrassnumberonhiscollar.Thegirlworenoheadcoveringandhurriedbesidehim.

“Theguardwillpickhimup,”onewaitersaid.

“Whatdoesitmatterifhegetswhathe’safter?”

“Hehadbettergetoffthestreetnow.Theguardwillgethim.Theywentbyfiveminutesago.”

Theoldmansittingintheshadowrappedonhissaucerwithhisglass.Theyoungerwaiterwentovertohim.

“Whatdoyouwant?”

Theoldmanlookedathim.“Anotherbrandy,”hesaid.

“You’llbedrunk,”thewaitersaid.Theoldmanlookedathim.Thewaiterwentaway.

“He’llstayallnight,”hesaidtohiscolleague.“I’msleepynow.Inevergetintobedbeforethreeo’clock.Heshouldhavekilledhimselflastweek.”

Thewaitertookthebrandybottleandanothersaucerfromthecounterinsidethecafeandmarchedouttotheoldman’s.Heputdownthesaucerandpouredtheglassfullofbrandy.

“Youshouldhavekilledyourselflastweek,”hesaidtothedeafman.Theoldmanmotionedwithhisfinger.“Alittlemore,”hesaid.Thewaiterpouredonintotheglasssothatthebrandysloppedoverandrandownthestemintothetopsaucerofthepile.“Thankyou,”theoldmansaid.Thewaitertookthebottlebackinsidethecafe.Hesatdownatthewithhiscolleagueagain.

“He’sdrunknow,”hesaid.

“He’sdrunkeverynight.”

“Whatdidhewanttokillhimselffor?”

“HowshouldIknow.”

“Howdidhedoit?”

“Hehunghimselfwitharope.”

“Whocuthimdown?”

“Hisniece.”

“Whydidtheydoit?”

“Fearforhissoul.”

“Howmuchmoneyhashegot?”“He’sgotplenty.”

“Hemustbeeightyyearsold.”

“AnywayIshouldsayhewaseighty.”

“Iwishhewouldgohome.Inevergettobedbeforethreeo’clock.Whatkindofhouristhattogotobed?”

“Hestaysupbecausehelikesit.”

“He’slonely.I’mnotlonely.Ihaveawifewaitinginbedforme.”

“Hehadawifeoncetoo.”

“Awifewouldbenogoodtohimnow.”

“Youcan’ttell.Hemightbebetterwithawife.”

“Hisniecelooksafterhim.Yousaidshecuthimdown.”

“Iknow.”“Iwouldn’twanttobethatold.Anoldmanisanastything.”

“Notalways.Thisoldmanisclean.Hedrinkswithoutspilling.Evennow,drunk.Lookathim.”

“Idon’twanttolookathim.Iwishhewouldgohome.Hehasnoregardforthosewhomustwork.”

Theoldmanlookedfromhisglassacrossthesquare,thenoveratthewaiters.

“Anotherbrandy,”hesaid,pointingtohisglass.Thewaiterwhowasinahurrycameover.

“Finished,”hesaid,speakingwiththatomissionofsyntaxstupidpeopleemploywhentalkingtodrunkenpeopleorforeigners.“Nomoretonight.Closenow.”

“Another,”saidtheoldman.

“No.Finished.”Thewaiterwipedtheedgeofthewithatowelandshookhishead.

Theoldmanstoodup,slowlycountedthesaucers,tookaleathercoinpursefromhispocketandpaidforthedrinks,leavinghalfapesetatip.Thewaiterwatchedhimgodownthestreet,averyoldmanwalkingunsteadilybutwithdignity.

“Whydidn’tyoulethimstayanddrink?”theunhurriedwaiterasked.Theywereputtinguptheshutters.“Itisnothalf-pasttwo.”

“Iwanttogohometobed.”

“Whatisanhour?”

“Moretomethantohim.”

“Anhouristhesame.”

“Youtalklikeanoldmanyourself.Hecanbuyabottleanddrinkathome.”

“It’snotthesame.”

“No,itisnot,”agreedthewaiterwithawife.Hedidnotwishtobeunjust.Hewasonlyinahurry.

“Andyou?Youhavenofearofgoinghomebeforeyourusualhour?”

“Areyoutryingtoinsultme?”

“No,hombre,onlytomakeajoke.”

“No,”thewaiterwhowasinahurrysaid,risingfrompullingdownthemetalshutters.“Ihaveconfidence.Iamallconfidence.”

“Youhaveyouth,confidence,andajob,”theolderwaitersaid.“Youhaveeverything.”

“Andwhatdoyoulack?”

“Everythingbutwork.”

“YouhaveeverythingIhave.”

“No.IhaveneverhadconfidenceandIamnotyoung.”

“Comeon.Stoptalkingnonsenseandlockup.”

“Iamofthosewholiketostaylateatthecafe,”theolderwaitersaid.

“Withallthosewhodonotwanttogotobed.Withallthosewhoneedalightforthenight.”

“Iwanttogohomeandintobed.”

“Weareoftwodifferentkinds,”theolderwaitersaid.Hewasnowdressedtogohome.“Itisnotonlyaquestionofyouthandconfidencealthoughthosethingsareverybeautiful.EachnightIamreluctanttocloseupbecausetheremaybesomeonewhoneedsthecafe.”

“Hombre,therearebodegasopenallnightlong.”

“Youdonotunderstand.Thisisacleanandpleasantcafe.Itiswelllighted.Thelightisverygoodandalso,now,thereareshadowsoftheleaves.”

“Goodnight,”saidtheyoungerwaiter.

“Goodnight,”theothersaid.Turningofftheelectriclighthecontinuedtheconversationwithhimself,Itwasthelightofcoursebutitisnecessarythattheplacebecleanandpleasant.Youdonotwantmusic.Certainlyyoudonotwantmusic.Norcanyoustandbeforeabarwithdignityalthoughthatisallthatisprovidedforthesehours.Whatdidhefear?Itwasnotafearordread,Itwasanothingthatheknewtoowell.Itwasallanothingandamanwasanothingtoo.Itwasonlythatandlightwasallitneededandacertaincleannessandorder.Somelivedinitandneverfeltitbutheknewitallwasnadaypuesnadaynadaypuesnada.Ournadawhoartinnada,nadabethynamethykingdomnadathywillbenadainnadaasitisinnada.Giveusthisnadaourdailynadaandnadausournadaaswenadaournadasandnadausnotintonadabutdeliverusfromnada;puesnada.Hailnothingfullofnothing,nothingiswiththee.Hesmiledandstoodbeforeabarwithashiningsteampressurecoffeemachine.

“What’syours?”askedthebarman.

“Nada.”

“Otrolocomas,”saidthebarmanandturnedaway.

“Alittlecup,”saidthewaiter.

Thebarmanpoureditforhim.

“Thelightisverybrightandpleasantbutthebarisunpolished,”thewaitersaid.

Thebarmanlookedathimbutdidnotanswer.Itwastoolateatnightforconversation.

“Youwantanothercopita?”thebarmanasked.

“No,thankyou,”saidthewaiterandwentout.Hedislikedbarsandbodegas.Aclean,well-lightedcafewasaverydifferentthing.Now,withoutthinkingfurther,hewouldgohometohisroom.Hewouldlieinthebedandfinally,withdaylight,hewouldgotosleep.Afterall,hesaidtohimself,it’sprobablyonlyinsomnia.Manymusthaveit.