anything to request?"

Ibarra meditated.

"Senor," he replied, "my greatest desire is the happiness of my
country, a happiness due to the efforts of our Mother Country and to
the efforts of my fellow countrymen, united with the eternal bonds
of a common interest and common object. What I ask the Government
can only give after many years of continuous work and proper reforms."

His Excellency looked at him for several seconds with a look which
Ibarra met naturally, without timidity and without boldness.

"You are the first man with whom I have spoken in this country,"
he exclaimed grasping his hand.

"Your Excellency has only seen those who lead a grovelling existence
in the city. You have not seen the calumniated hovels of our towns. If
you had, you would have seen true men, if generous hearts and simple
manners make true men."

The Governor General arose and paced the sala from one side to
the other.

"Senor Ibarra," he exclaimed, stopping a moment. The young man
arose. "I will probably leave here within a month. Your education and
your mode of thinking are not for this country. Sell what you possess,
get your trunk ready and come with me to Europe. That climate will
be better for you."

"I shall cherish all my life the memory of Your Excellency's kindness,"
replied Ibarra, moved by what the Governor General had said. "But I
ought to live in the country where my fathers have lived...."

"Where they have died, you should say, to speak more
exactly. Believe me! I possibly know your country better than you
do yourself.... Ah! Now I remember," he exclaimed changing the tone
of his voice. "You are going to marry a lovely girl and I am keeping
you here! Go, go to her side, and that you may have greater liberty
send her father to me," he added, smiling. "Do not forget, however,
that I want you to accompany me for a walk."

Ibarra bowed and departed.

His Excellency called his adjutant.

"I am happy," said he, giving him a light slap on the shoulder. "To-day
I have seen for the first time how one can be a good Spaniard without
ceasing to be a good Filipino and to love his country. To-day, at last,
I have shown the Reverences that we are not all their playthings. This
young man has afforded me the opportunity, and, in a short time,
I will have settled all of my accounts with the friar. It's a pity
that this young man, some day or other ... but call the Alcalde to me."

The latter presented himself at once.