The one-armed man turned around. "Is that so? Why?" he asked with
shining eyes.

"She said that it was a Christmas gift--"

"But Christmas doesn't come for a month yet!"

"Perhaps she's afraid the storm is blowing her way," observed the
fat lady.

"And is getting under cover," added the thin senora.

"When no return is asked, it's a confession of guilt."

"This must be carefully looked into," declared the one-armed man
thoughtfully. "I fear that there's a cat in the bag."

"A cat in the bag, yes! That's just what I was going to say," echoed
the thin lady.

"And so was I," said the other, taking the words out of her mouth,
"the wife of Capitan Tinong is so stingy--she hasn't yet sent us
any present and that after we've been in her house. So, when such
a grasping and covetous woman lets go of a little present worth a
thousand pesos--"

"But, is it a fact?" inquired the one-armed man.

"Certainly! Most certainly! My cousin's sweetheart, his Excellency's
adjutant, told her so. And I'm of the opinion that it's the very same
ring that the older daughter wore on the day of the fiesta. She's
always covered with diamonds."

"A walking show-case!"

"A way of attracting attention, like any other! Instead of buying a
fashion plate or paying a dressmaker--"

Giving some pretext, the one-armed man left the gathering. Two hours
later, when the world slept, various residents of Tondo received an
invitation through some soldiers. The authorities could not consent
to having certain persons of position and property sleep in such
poorly guarded and badly ventilated houses--in Fort Santiago and
other government buildings their sleep would be calmer and more
refreshing. Among these favored persons was included the unfortunate
Capitan Tinong.

CHAPTER LX

Maria Clara Weds

Capitan Tiago was very happy, for in all this terrible storm no one
had taken any notice of him. He had not been arrested, nor had he been
subjected to solitary confinement, investigations, electric machines,
continuous foot-baths in underground cells, or other pleasantries that
are well-known to certain folk who call themselves civilized. His
friends, that is, those who had been his friends--for the good man
had denied all his Filipino friends from the instant when they were
suspected by the government--had also returned to their homes after a
few days' vacation in the state edifices. The Captain-General himself
had ordered that they be cast