iping that I have taken the liberty
to add," he said. "These subterranean conduits lead to a sort of
cesspool, thirty yards away. It will help fertilize the garden. There
was nothing of that in the plan. Does it displease you?"

"Quite the contrary, I approve what you've done and congratulate
you. You are a real architect. From whom did you learn the business?"

"From myself, sir," replied the old man modestly.

"Oh, before I forget about it--tell those who may have scruples,
if perhaps there is any one who fears to speak to me, that I'm no
longer excommunicated. The Archbishop invited me to dinner."

"_Aba_, sir, we don't pay any attention to excommunications! All of
us are excommunicated. Padre Damaso himself is and yet he stays fat."

"How's that?"

"It's true, sir, for a year ago he caned the coadjutor, who is
just as much a sacred person as he is. Who pays any attention to
excommunications, sir?"

Among the laborers Ibarra caught sight of Elias, who, as he saluted
him along with the others, gave him to understand by a look that he
had something to say to him.

"Nor Juan," said Ibarra, "will you bring me your list of the laborers?"

Nor Juan disappeared, and Ibarra approached Elias, who was by himself,
lifting a heavy stone into a cart.

"If you can grant me a few hours' conversation, sir, walk down to
the shore of the lake this evening and get into my banka." The youth
nodded, and Elias moved away.

Nor Juan now brought the list, but Ibarra scanned it in vain; the
name of Elias did not appear on it!

CHAPTER XLIX

The Voice of the Hunted

As the sun was sinking below the horizon Ibarra stepped into Elias's
banka at the shore of the lake. The youth looked out of humor.

"Pardon me, sir," said Elias sadly, on seeing him, "that I have been
so bold as to make this appointment. I wanted to talk to you freely
and so I chose this means, for here we won't have any listeners. We
can return within an hour."

"You're wrong, friend," answered Ibarra with a forced smile. "You'll
have to take me to that town whose belfry we see from here. A mischance
forces me to this."

"A mischance?"

"Yes. On my way here I met the alferez and he forced his company on
me. I thought of you and remembered that he knows you, so to get away
from him I told him that I was going to that town. I'll have to stay
there all day, since he will look for me tomorrow afternoon."

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but you mi