“Enrique!” exclaimed the elderly woman and hugged him affectionately.

“Lola, meet Margot, my close friend,” Enrique told her pointing at Margot.

Lola looked at Margot closely for some time, and only after that she shook hands with her.

“We will stay here for a couple of days. I want to show Margot everything, and have a ride with her.”

Lola smiled at Margot.

“Welcome, Mademoiselle Margot.”

“Thank you, Lola.”

Margo seemed a bit embarrassed.

They spent the evening at home. Lola cooked an excellent supper for them. They had their supper and went to sit by the fireplace. Enrique brought old family albums and they were looking through them for a long time, inspecting every yellowish, faded away, black and white photo.

When the bedtime came, Margot had a thorough knowledge of Enrique’s family and his ancestors.

***

“We can have a horse-ride today. I’ll show you my woods. At twenty minutes’ ride from here, there is a wonderful lake. We can hunt ducks there. Are you fond of hunting?”

“No, I’m not. I hate any kind of violence.”

“All right. Then we can simply have a pleasant ride. Let’s go downstairs now. Lola has cooked a delicious breakfast for us.”

“You can go, and I will join you in no time. I need to dress.”

Enrique went down the stairs hastily.

Margot kept sitting on the bed for some time. She started to think. She wanted to recall her dream. She recalled only a few episodes and smiled. She recalled herself in a wedding gown and Enrique standing by her side, Enrique De Silva!

There was wonderful odor in the woods, the fragrance of the late autumn. The ground was covered with leaves. Each tree was of different color. The wood looked like a real oil painting.

Enrique was riding his horse very slowly, holding Margot who was sitting in front of him.

“Are you tired?” he asked.

“No. I have never seen anything so beautiful. Luke might enjoy it too”, Margot said, regretting immediately her careless remark.

“Luke? Who’s Luke?” Enrique asked in surprise.

Margot was at a loss. She didn’t know what to say. Then she managed to overcome her embarrassment and answered:

“He is my son. I should have told you about him earlier, but I somehow couldn’t...

Enrique stopped his horse. He seemed amazed.

“You have a son and you didn’t tell me anything about him? Where is he? How old is he? Who looks after him?”

“He is in the orphanage. They take a good care of him there... I can’t take him until I have saved a little money.” And Margot burst into tears.

“Okay, darling. Don’t cry please. Let’s go back home and tell me everything about him.”

Some time later they were sitting by the fireplace, and Margot was telling the story of her life in the smallest details.

“Luke is already five. I’m looking forward to the moment I am able to take him from there. But I can’t do anything more. Now you know everything about me.”

Enrique was sitting silent, thinking about something. Then he whispered:

“Poor boy! How long does he have to wait? He has done nothing wrong.”

He wanted to say something more, but he couldn’t. He had a lump in his throat, and could not utter a word. His eyes were full of tears too.

***

They returned to the port the very next day. Enrique saw Margot home and told her:

“I’m leaving for three days on some urgent business. I ask you not to go to the shore or to the “Green Island”. I ask you very much! You can have fun somewhere else, before I come back. You can go to the cinema or to the theatre, or anywhere else you wish, but don’t go there any more. Promise, you won’t.”

Margot nodded.

“Now take this,” Enrique said and put something into her handbag. “I’ll be back soon and we shall go to Luke together.”

Margot hugged him and got out of the car with her eyes full of tears.

Lily was newly woken up and she looked at Margot in surprise.

“Why are you crying? Has the bustard offended you?”

“No, no Lily! He is the kindest man in the world,” exclaimed Margot and told her friend every detail of her trip. Lily calmed down. She was listening to Margot telling her a beautiful fairy-tale.

I’ll stay at home today. And tomorrow we’ll go for a walk. Let’s go to the theatre and then sit in a café, shall we?”

“Okay, my dear. It all reminds me of my childhood fairy-tales about kind and handsome Princes.

In the evening Lily dressed up and said good-bye to Margot:

“See you in the morning, darling!”

***

There were a lot of people at the “Green Island” as usual. The girls, too, were cheerful as always. The cruise ship “Galicia” had entered the port.

“Lily!”

Lily turned round and saw her old acquaintance, Peppe Segara.

They kissed.

“You look great! You are not growing old!” Peppe seemed to be in high spirits.

“I was told you had been put to prison for quite a while.”

“Just for a very little while, as you see. Where is Margot?”

“She isn’t working today. She won’t be working tomorrow or the day after tomorrow either. She won’t come here any more.”

“Where is she now?”

“Does it make any difference? I told you, she quit.”

“Has she got married?” Peppe laughed. Then he turned round, got into his car and drove away.

Twenty minutes later somebody knocked on Margot’s door.

“Who might it be?” Margot thought and opened the door. Peppe was standing in the doorway, smiling at her.

“Hello, princess!” he said and kissed the amazed woman.

“I thought...” Margot tried to say something.

“I know what you thought lovely, but here I am, and talking with you. I’ve missed you”, said Peppe and caressed her.

“Wait, Peppe! I’ve quit, you must understand that.”

“Peppe was amazed.”

“Shall I believe that there appeared a wealthy prince?

“Yes.”

“Who is he, I wonder?”

“Does it make any difference?”

Peppe sat on a chair.

“Who would ever think... Are you happy?’

“Oh yes, I am. I want to forget everything and start a new life. Don’t I deserve to be happy for a while?”

“I will only be happy for you. You have always been different from the others. I felt quite different with you. The other girls are real whores, but you aren’t. Come, let’s take a walk. Let’s sit in a café, have a cup of coffee and talk. It’ll be our farewell party.”

Margot looked into his eyes. Peppe’s eyes smiled kindly at her.

They stopped at a little café downtown. They went in and took their seats.

“Two coffees,” Peppe said to the waiter and asked Margot:

“Would you like to have some drink?”

“No thanks.”

“Okay then. Bring me a double scotch” he added, looking at the waiter.

It was quiet in the café. Outside the evening was peaceful too. Peppe lit a cigarette and sat silent for some time. Then he asked Margot:

“Are you planning to stay here or are you moving to some other place?”

Margot didn’t know for sure what she was going to do, but she answered firmly:

“No, I can’t stay here. I hate everything I touch. Everything and everyone seem filthy to me except you and Lily, of course.

There came a long pause.

“If you happen to be in a trouble and need my help, you know where to find me. Don’t be hesitant; I’m the same Peppe Segara. I can’t change my life.”

Margot smiled at him.

“Thank you, Peppe! You have always been very kind to me. And now, please, take me home; I’d like to be alone for some time.”

They got into the car and drove slowly. They didn’t speak on the way, and Peppe was looking into the rear window all the time.

They stopped at Margo’s house.

“I wish you all the best, my dear girl,” Peppe said. At that very moment a car stopped abruptly by their side. Peppe put his hand into the inner pocket of his jacket, and Margot could only see a strange light followed by a terrible bang.