fitting that
he should arrive later than the others.

Maria Clara, the subject of all the gossip, was the center of a
group of women. She had greeted and received them ceremoniously,
but did not throw off her air of sadness.

"Psh!" said one of the girls. "A little stuck-up!"

"A cute little thing," replied another, "but he might have selected
some one of a more intelligent appearance."

"It's the money; he's a good-looking fellow and sells himself for a
good price."

In another part of the room they were talking like this:

"Marry, when her former betrothed is about to be hanged!"

"I call that prudence; to have one on hand as a substitute."

Possibly the young maiden heard these remarks as she sat in a chair
near by, arranging a tray of flowers, for her hand was seen to tremble,
she turned pale and bit her lips a number of times.

The conversation among the men was in a loud tone. Naturally, they
were conversant with the recent happenings. All were talking, even
Don Tiburcio, with the exception of Father Sibyla, who maintained a
disdainful silence.

"I have heard that Your Reverence leaves the town, Father Salvi?" asked
the newly made lieutenant, now made more amiable by the star on
his sleeve.

"I have nothing more to do now in San Diego. I am permanently settled
in Manila now ... and you?"

"I also leave the town," replied the former alferez, straightening
up. "The Government needs me to take command of a flying column to
clear the provinces of filibusteros."

Friar Salvi looked him over from head to foot, and turned his back
to him completely.

"Is it yet known for a certainty what is to become of the leader of
the revolutionists?" asked a Government employee.

"Are you referring to Crisostomo Ibarra?" asked another. "What is most
probable and most just is that he be hanged, as those were in '72."

"He will be exiled," said the old lieutenant, dryly.

"Exiled! Nothing more than exiled! But it will be a perpetual
exile!" exclaimed several at the same time.

"If that young fellow," Lieutenant Guevara went on to say in a loud
voice, "had been more cautious; if he had trusted certain people less
with whom he had correspondence; and if the officers had not made
a subtle interpretation of what was written--if it had not been for
all of this, that young man would surely have gone free."

This statement by the old lieutenant and the tone of his voice produced
a great surprise in the room. Those wh