Galdos (1843-1920) ranks alongside such 19th-century realists as Dickens, Balzac, and Tolstoy. Throughtout his writings, Galdos chronicles the public and private life of Madrid during its formative years as a modern city. This novella recounts an avaricious moneylender's attempts to restore his son's failing health through acts of charity. Dual-language edition.