Moments later； the Plaza de los Mбrtires had been reached； the search was perforce at an end。
The sensation…hungry idlers began to melt away with increasing rapidity。 Midnight tolled from a belfry here； a belfry there。 The long…maintained fire…equipment spotlight suddenly blanked out； the vehicle drove away。 The ropes were taken down。 The inhabitants were allowed to return。 Oil lamps； kerosene； and candles winked here and there from within the fumigated buildings as they resumed occupancy。 They stood for awhile in small clusters outside their doors； talking it over。 Then these too disbanded as they went in one by one to their respective abodes to sleep。 The alley returned to normal。
The majority of the police were withdrawn。 One man was left posted； for the rest of the night； at each end of the alley； though for what purpose； it was hard to conjecture。
The night wore on toward its predestined finish； just as every night before it had in its time。
At any rate； only one thing was certain； so far； out of the whole episode。 The jaguar had not been recaptured。 The jaguar； therefore； must still be at large somewhere or other。
Morning came； and in its confidence…inspiring light a different view began to be taken of the whole thing。 The brilliant； sunny daylight killed fears and vapors。 It seemed incredible that such a fantastic thing could have happened。 Ciudad Real was a town of natural…born skeptics anyway。 By the time the morning coffees and pan dulce had been swallowed everywhere； a rumor had spread that the whole affair had simply been a publicity hoax perpetrated by Walker and her press agent。 Like the usual actress' missing…jewels stunt。 That this did not take into account what had actually bee of the fleet…footed quadruped did not impair its ready acceptance； it spread from mouth to mouth。 Even those who the night before had been the first to lock their doors and peer anxiously under their beds were the first to say： 〃I knew it all along。 You didn't believe it； did you？〃 Whereupon the other fellow scoffed； 〃Of course not； what do you take me for？〃 In spite of the fact that there were dozens of eyewitnesses； the rumor very nearly succeeded in downing the reality。 The very eyewitnesses themselves felt selfconscious after a while when they tried to insist they'd seen it。 They began to wonder privately if they actually had； after all。
The newspapers； those barometers of public opinion； helped to disseminate this point of view。 They all carried items about it； but treated it humorously； tongue in cheek。 〃The great jaguar scare〃； 〃Who has Miss Walker's jaguar？ Will somebody please return it？〃 were some of the headings。 People greeted one another facetiously all over town with： 〃Well； have you seen the jaguar yet？〃
The police； keeping their own counsel； may have preferred it so。 It at least saved them from the nuisance of dozens of hysterical false alarms all clay long。 This way； not one came in。 They noticeably didn't discontinue the search altogether； a Sure sign that there was something to look for； after all。 Only it became more diffuse； it was harder for the man in the street to tell just what they were doing； now that there was no longer any one particular locality； such as the alley； for them to concentrate on。
Manning； through all of this； had had a most unpleasant twenty…four hours of it。 Not only was he detained in jail all of that first night； charged with violating some ancient city ordinance or other that prohibited the conveying of wild animals through the streets without a permit； haled into court in the morning； severely lectured for his misdemeanor； and fined a nominal sum before he was released； but he was also out of his job with Kiki Walker。
She made this known to him in no uncertain terms over the transom of her locked hotel…suite door when he tried to get in to see her the night after the debacle。 Her voice came through ringingly； in fact so ringingly that other doors here and there along the hotel corridor began to open curiously after a moment or two。
〃You've got your nerve ing around here again； after what happened！ You've made me the laughingstock of the whole town； I want you to know！ Beat it！ Take your bright ideas somewhere else！〃
〃Now look； Kick； I didn't arrange to have it happen that way purposely； you know；〃 he tried to reason with her。
〃You got my pictures in the paper all right！〃 her voice went on wrathfully。 〃Did you see the one in the Grafico？ Flat on my behind with my legs up in the air； and squirting a stream of seltzer water through them！ When the curtain goes up at the theater next week； that's what everyone'll see…and not the performance that's going on before their eyes！ I'll be laughed off the stage！
〃I'll e back when you've cooled off；〃 he said stiffly。 〃You don't have to make a scene like this； with everyone looking out of their rooms snickering at me。〃
〃And what about me； out in the middle of the Alameda； with the whole town taking it in？〃
〃All right； I'll see you tomorrow；〃 he said； trying to keep relations between them intact； no matter how brittle they had bee。 It was his livelihood； after all。
〃You'll see me never！〃 What he didn't realize； and perhaps she didn't herself； was that it wasn't the jaguar episode that was basically the cause of her tempestuous indignation。 It was really that first meeting of theirs。 He'd seen her when she was broke； down on her luck； unable even to buy herself a cup of coffee。 She'd never been able to forgive him for that。 〃There's your back salary。 There's no reason for you to e around any more now。 We're quits！〃
A handful of large disks； Ciudad Real silver pesos； sprinkled over the open transom and rolled about in all directions over the corridor。 One or two of those standing in the doorways helpfully stopped them for him with their feet。 A scattering of paper money had fluttered down more slowly in their wake。
He wasn't above picking it all up； every last scrap of it。 He'd worked hard for that money； and in a way that basically wasn't suited to his temperament or talents。 He needed it。 And he didn't know where the next was ing from。
〃All right； Kick；〃 he said with injured dignity。 〃Lots of luck to you； if that's the way you feel about it。〃
The transom panel snapped shut with a sharp little crack。 He turned up his coat collar at the back of his neck； shoved his hands deep into his pockets； and trudged disconsolately away from there。
When a man has lost his job； the first thing he thinks of； usually； is to go out； have a drink； and take the edge off his troubles。 Manning did that now too。 Only he found he wasn't even to be allowed to forget the damnable affair in peace。
He went into a place a few short blocks from her hotel。
〃Well；〃 asked the barman； grinning with what was intended to be sociable jocularity； 〃have you seen the jaguar yet？〃
Manning put down his drink abruptly； as though it sickened him。 He gave the bartender a look in kind； as though he did； too。 He snapped down a coin； turned around； and walked out without saying anything and went somewhere else。
Again he ordered。 Again the barman； trying to make him feel at home； began cheerily： 〃What's the latest on the jaguar？〃
Again Manning put down his drink short； scowled； and turned on his heel。
At the third place he beat the barman to the punch。 〃I want two things；〃 he said bitterly。 〃A whisky and water； and not to hear about the jaguar。 Will you do that for me； try not to mention it？ I came in here to forget it。〃 He drew an imaginary line through the air； lengthwise to his own face。 〃 Terminado。 Finished。 It's over。〃
But it wasn't。
Night brooded enigmatically over Ciudad Real； seeming to hold its breath。 Three quarters of a million people； and somewhere in the midst； shadow slim； with velvet tread； and fangs for those who crossed its ill…omened path…
II。 Teresa Delgado
Even the Seсora Delgado's trusty broom handle； that persuader of last resource； seemed to have very little effect tonight in getting her oldest girl to do her bidding。 She reached threateningly toward it； and that alone was usually sufficient impetus to st