e young man's turn to be perplexed. The lieutenant, who
had been listening to the argument, knit his brows. The little man
with the black beard made ready to combat or support Father Damaso's
arguments, while the Dominican was content to remain entirely neutral.

"But do you believe----," the young man finally asked in a curious
mood, and looking straight at the friar.

"Do I believe it? As I do the Gospel! The native is so indolent!"

"Ah! Pardon me for interrupting you," said the young blonde, lowering
his voice and drawing his chair closer, "but you have spoken a word
that arouses my interest. Is this indolence an inherent characteristic
of the native, or is it true, as a foreign traveller has said in
speaking of a country whose inhabitants are of the same race as these,
that this indolence is only a fabrication to excuse our own laziness,
our backwardness and the faults of our celestial system?"

"Bah! That is nothing but envy! Ask Senor Laruja, who knows this
country very well, whether the native has his equal in the world for
indolence and ignorance."

"It is a fact," replied the little man referred to, "that
nowhere in the world can any one be found more indolent than the
native. Positively nowhere!"

"Nor more vicious and ungrateful!"

"Nor with less education!"

Somewhat uneasy, the blonde man began to glance about the
room. "Gentlemen," he said in a low voice, "I believe that we are in
the house of a native, and these young ladies may----"

"Bah! Don't be so sensitive. How long have you been in the country?"

"Four days," answered the young man somewhat ruffled.

"Did you come here as an employee?"

"No, sir. I came on my own account in order to become acquainted with
the country."

"Man, what a rare bird you are!" exclaimed Father Damaso, looking
at him with curiosity. "To come here on your own account for such
foolish ends! What a phenomenon! And when so many books have been
written about this country----"

Then, striking the arm of his chair with sudden violence, he exclaimed:
"The country is being lost; it is lost already. The governing power
supports heretics against the ministers of God."

"What do you mean?" again asked the lieutenant, half rising from
his chair.

"What do I mean?" repeated Father Damaso, again raising his voice,
and facing the lieutenant. "I mean what I say. I mean that, when a
priest turns away the corpse of a heretic from his cemetery, no one,
not even the King h