The Sun Also Rises

The next day brings rain and fog, and more bad weather rolls in from the sea. Still, in Pamplona, the party feverishly continues. Jake is shaving in his room when Montoya enters. Montoya, looking embarrassed, tells him that the American ambassador wants to meet Romero for coffee. Jake tells him not to pass the invite along to Romero. Montoya feels pleased because he was worried that the Americans might have a bad influence on the young bullfighter.  

Jake finds Bill and Mike in the hotel dining room; they are already drunk. Bill keeps paying to have Mike’s shoes shined. Romero comes over from the neighboring table. Jake compliments Romero’s bullfighting style, which pleases Romero. Romero talks a bit about his past. He is from a town near Gibraltar, where he learned some English. He’s only been bullfighting for three years. His older brother is with him in Pamplona.

Jake lies to Romero and tells him that he has seen him fight three times. Romero talks about his bullfighting work in a way that shows “nothing conceited or braggartly about him” (178).

From the next table, Brett asks to be introduced to Romero. She keeps staring at him.