e my own
misfortune. Since no noble thought unites us, and since our hearts do
not beat in harmony at the mention of a single word, at least, let a
common misery unite me to my fellow countrymen; at least, let me weep
with them over our grief; let the same misery oppress all our hearts."

"Then why do you advise me to leave?"

"Because in other lands you can be happy, and I cannot; because you
are not made to suffer, and because you would hate your country,
if some day you should see the cause of your misfortune: and to hate
one's own country is the greatest misery."

"You are unjust to me," exclaimed Ibarra, with bitter reproach. "You
forget that I have scarcely arrived here, and that I have already
sought its welfare."

"Do not be offended, Senor. I am not reproaching you. Would to God
that all might imitate you. But I do not ask for the impossible and
you should not be offended if I tell you that your heart deceives
you. You love your country because your father has taught you to
love it; you love it because you had in it your love, your fortune,
your youth; because it smiled on you, and because it has not until now
done you an injustice. You love your country as we all love that which
makes us happy. But, on that day when you see yourself poor, ragged,
hungry, persecuted, denounced and betrayed by your very countrymen,
on that day you will curse yourself, your country and all."

"Your words grieve me," said Ibarra, resentfully.

Elias bowed his head, meditated and replied:

"I wish to set you right, Senor, and to avoid a miserable future for
you. You remember the time when I was talking to you in this same
banca and under the light of the same moon. It was a month ago, a few
days more or less. Then you were happy. The plea of the unfortunates
did not reach you. You disdained their complaints because they were
complaints from criminals. You gave ear to their enemies, and, in
spite of my reasons and pleas, you put yourself on the side of their
oppressors. On you depended at that time whether I should turn criminal
or allow my life to be taken in fulfillment of my sacred pledge. God
has not permitted it, because the old chief of the bandits has been
killed. A month has passed and now you think differently."

"You are right, Elias, but man is influenced by changes in
circumstances. Then I was blind, and obstinate. What did I know? Now
misfortune has torn the veil from my eyes. The solitude and misery of
my pri