maiden and said to her affably: "Happy are the fathers who have
daughters like you, senorita. They have spoken to me about you with
respect and consideration.... I have desired to see you and to thank
you for your pretty deed of to-day. I am informed of all, and when
I write to His Majesty's Government I will not forget your generous
conduct. In the meantime, senorita, allow me in the name of His
Majesty the King whom I represent here and who loves to see peace and
tranquillity among his subjects, and in my own name, that of a father
who also has daughters of your age, allow me to extend to you most
sincere thanks and propose your name for some mark of recognition."

"Senor ..." replied Maria Clara, trembling.

His Excellency guessed what she wanted to say, and replied: "It is
well enough, senorita, that you are satisfied in your own conscience
with the mere esteem of your own people. The testimony of one's people
is the highest reward and we ought not to ask more. But, however,
I will not let pass this excellent opportunity to show you that,
if justice knows how to punish, she also knows how to reward and is
not always blind."

"Senor Don Juan Crisostomo awaits Your Excellency's orders," announced
the adjutant in a loud voice.

Maria Clara trembled.

"Ah!" exclaimed the Governor General. "Permit me, senorita, to express
the desire to see you again before I leave town. I still have some
very important things to say to you. Senor Alcalde, Your Lordship
will accompany me for a walk after the conference which I will hold
alone with Senor Ibarra."

"Your Excellency will permit us," said Father Salvi meekly, "to inform
you that Senor Ibarra is excommunicated ..."

His Excellency interrupted him saying: "I am glad that I have nothing
more to deplore than the condition of Father Damaso, for whom I
sincerely wish a complete recovery, because at his age a voyage to
Spain for his health would not be pleasant. But this depends on
him ... and in the meantime, may God preserve the health of Your
Reverences."

They retired one after the other.

"We will see who will make the journey first," said a Franciscan.

"I am going off now right away!" said Father Sibyla, with indignation.

"And we are going back to our provinces, too," said the Augustins.

They could not endure that through the fault of a Franciscan His
Excellency had received them coldly.

In the entrance hall they met Ibarra, their host only a few hours
ago