."

The voices were hushed, but the door did not open.

"It's I. May I come in?" demanded Crisostomo, his heart beginning to
beat violently.

The silence continued. After some moments, light foot-steps approached
the door, and the voice of Sinang said through the keyhole:

"Crisostomo, we're going to the theatre to-night. Write what you have
to say to Maria Clara."

"What does that mean?" said Ibarra to himself as he slowly left
the door.

XXXII.

THE PROCESSION.

That evening, in the light of countless lanterns, to the sound of
bells and of continuous detonations, the procession started for the
fourth time.

The captain-general, who had set out on foot, accompanied by his two
aides-de-camp, Captain Tiago, the alcalde, the alferez, and Ibarra, and
preceded by the guards, to open a passage, was to view the procession
from the house of the gobernadorcillo. This functionary had built a
platform for the recitation of a loa, a religious poem in honor of
the patron saint.

Ibarra would gladly have renounced the hearing of this composition,
but His Excellency had ordered his attendance, and Crisostomo must
console himself with the thought of seeing his fiancee at the theatre.

The procession began by the march of the silver candelabra, borne
by three sacristans. Then came the school children and their
master, then other children, all with paper lanterns, shaped and
ornamented according to the taste of each child--for each was
his own lantern-maker--hoisted on bamboo poles of various lengths
and lighted by bits of candles. An effigy of St. John the Baptist
followed, borne on a litter, and then came St. Francis, surrounded by
crystal lamps. A band followed, and then the standard of the saint,
borne by the brothers of the Third Order, praying aloud in a sort of
lamentation. San Diego came next, his car drawn by six brothers of the
Third Order, probably fulfilling some vow. St. Mary Magdalen followed
him, a beautiful image with splendid hair, wearing a costume of silk
spangled with gold, and holding a handkerchief of embroidered pina
in her jewelled hands. Lights and incense surrounded her, and her
glass tears reflected the varied colors of Bengal lights. St. John
the Baptist moved far ahead, as if ashamed of his camel's hair beside
all this gold and glitter.

After the Magdalen came the women of the order, the elder first, so
that the young girls should surround the car of the Virgin; behind
them was t