only that you make due acknowledgment that it was I who
warned you."

"It'll be acknowledged, Padre, it'll be acknowledged--and perhaps
you'll get a miter!" answered the glowing alferez, glancing at the
cuffs of his uniform.

"So, you send me four guards in plain clothes, eh? Be discreet,
and tonight at eight o'clock it'll rain stars and crosses."

While all this was taking place, a man ran along the road leading to
Ibarra's house and rushed up the stairway.

"Is your master here?" the voice of Elias called to a servant.

"He's in his study at work."

Ibarra, to divert the impatience that he felt while waiting for the
time when he could make his explanations to Maria Clara, had set
himself to work in his laboratory.

"Ah, that you, Elias?" he exclaimed. "I was thinking about
you. Yesterday I forgot to ask you the name of that Spaniard in whose
house your grandfather lived."

"Let's not talk about me, sir--"

"Look," continued Ibarra, not noticing the youth's agitation,
while he placed a piece of bamboo over a flame, "I've made a great
discovery. This bamboo is incombustible."

"It's not a question of bamboo now, sir, it's a question of your
collecting your papers and fleeing at this very moment."

Ibarra glanced at him in surprise and, on seeing the gravity of his
countenance, dropped the object that he held in his hands.

"Burn everything that may compromise you and within an hour put
yourself in a place of safety."

"Why?" Ibarra was at length able to ask.

"Put all your valuables in a safe place--"

"Why?"

"Burn every letter written by you or to you--the most innocent thing
may be wrongly construed--"

"But why all this?"

"Why! Because I've just discovered a plot that is to be attributed
to you in order to ruin you."

"A plot? Who is forming it?"

"I haven't been able to discover the author of it, but just a moment
ago I talked with one of the poor dupes who are paid to carry it out,
and I wasn't able to dissuade him."

"But he--didn't he tell you who is paying him?"

"Yes! Under a pledge of secrecy he said that it was you."

"My God!" exclaimed the terrified Ibarra.

"There's no doubt of it, sir. Don't lose any time, for the plot will
probably be carried out this very night."

Ibarra, with his hands on his head and his eyes staring unnaturally,
seemed not to hear him.

"The blow cannot be averted," continued Elias. "I've come late,
I don't know who the leaders are. Save yourself