"Furthermore," continued the sick man, "it will do us good to have
them attack us and wake us up. It would show us our weaknesses and
strengthen us. The exaggerated praises which we get deceive us,
and put us asleep. We are becoming ridiculous and on the day that we
become ridiculous we shall fall as we fell in Europe. Money will no
longer flow into our churches, no one will longer buy our scapularies
or girdles, and when we cease to be rich we shall no longer possess
the great influence which we wield at present."

"Pshaw! We shall always have our property, our plantations----"

"We shall lose them all as we lost them in Europe. And the worst
of it is that we are working for our own ruin. For instance, this
immeasurable ambition to raise the incomes from our lands each year,
this eagerness to increase the rents, which I have always opposed
in vain, this eagerness will be our ruin. The natives already find
themselves forced to buy land in other localities if they want lands
as good as ours. I fear that we are degenerating. 'Whom the gods would
destroy they first make mad.' For this reason we should not be too hard
on the people, for they are already grumbling under our exactions. You
have considered well. Let us leave this thing to others, and keep up
the prestige which we have and let us endeavor to appear before God
with clean hands. May the God of pity have mercy on our weaknesses!"

"So you believe that the tax or tribute----"

"Let us talk no more of money!" interrupted the sick man with
disgust. "You were saying that the lieutenant and Father Damaso
last night----"

"Yes, Father," answered the young priest smiling. "But this morning I
saw the lieutenant again and he told me that he was sorry for what had
occurred at the dinner. He said he thought that he had been affected by
too much wine and that the same was true of Father Damaso. 'And your
boast to tell the Governor?' I asked jokingly. 'Father,' he answered,
'I know when to make my word good so long as it does not stain my
honor. That is just the reason why I wear only two stars.'"

After talking over several minor matters, Father Sibyla took his leave.

As a matter of fact the lieutenant had not gone to the Governor
General's palace in Melacanan with any report in regard to the
occurrence of the preceding evening. However, the Governor General
had learned of it through another source, and discussing the matter
with one of his aides, he said:

"A wo