er. "The evil is that
we're not all openly declared tulisanes. When that happens and we all
take to the woods, on that day the country will be saved, on that
day will rise a new social order which will take care of itself,
and his Excellency will be able to play his game in peace, without
the necessity of having his attention diverted by his secretary."

The person mentioned at that moment yawned, extending his folded
arms above his head and stretching his crossed legs under the table
as far as possible, upon noticing which all laughed. His Excellency
wished to change the course of the conversation, so, throwing down
the cards he had been shuffling, he said half seriously: "Come, come,
enough of jokes and cards! Let's get to work, to work in earnest,
since we still have a half-hour before breakfast. Are there many
matters to be got through with?"

All now gave their attention. That was the day for joining battle
over the question of instruction in Castilian, for which purpose
Padre Sibyla and Padre Irene had been there several days. It was known
that the former, as Vice-Rector, was opposed to the project and that
the latter supported it, and his activity was in turn supported by
the Countess.

"What is there, what is there?" asked his Excellency impatiently.

"The petition about sporting arms," replied the secretary with a
stifled yawn.

"Forbidden!"

"Pardon, General," said the high official gravely, "your Excellency
will permit me to invite your attention to the fact that the use of
sporting arms is permitted in all the countries of the world."

The General shrugged his shoulders and remarked dryly, "We are not
imitating any nation in the world."

Between his Excellency and the high official there was always a
difference of opinion, so it was sufficient that the latter offer
any suggestion whatsoever to have the former remain stubborn.

The high official tried another tack. "Sporting arms can harm only
rats and chickens. They'll say--"

"But are we chickens?" interrupted the General, again shrugging his
shoulders. "Am I? I've demonstrated that I'm not."

"But there's another thing," observed the secretary. "Four months ago,
when the possession of arms was prohibited, the foreign importers
were assured that sporting arms would be admitted."

His Excellency knitted his brows.

"That can be arranged," suggested Simoun.

"How?"

"Very simply. Sporting arms nearly all have a caliber of six
millimeters,