him?" asked Don Santiago in a
low voice.

"Then Maria Clara must decide. But I believe the matter can be
arranged."

The sound of an arrival was heard, and Ibarra entered. His coming made
a strange impression. Captain Tiago did not know whether to smile or
weep. Father Salvi rose and offered his hand so affectionately that
Crisostomo could scarcely repress a look of surprise.

"Where have you been all day?" demanded wicked Sinang. "We asked
each other: 'What can have taken that soul newly rescued from
perdition?' and each of us had her opinion."

"And am I to know what each opinion was?"

"No, not yet! Tell me where you went, so I can see who made the
best guess."

"That's a secret too; but I can tell you by yourself if these gentlemen
will permit."

"Certainly, certainly?" said Father Salvi. Sinang drew Crisostomo to
the other end of the great room.

"Tell me, little friend," said he, "is Maria angry with me?"

"I don't know. She says you had best forget her, and then she
cries. This morning when we were wondering where you were I said to
tease her: 'Perhaps he has gone a-courting.' But she was quite grave,
and said: 'It is God's will!'"

"Tell Maria I must see her alone," said Ibarra, troubled.

"It will be difficult, but I'll try to manage it."

"And when shall I know?"

"To-morrow. But you are going without telling me the secret!"

"So I am. Well, I went to the pueblo of Los Banos to see about some
cocoanut trees!"

"What a secret!" cried Sinang aloud in a tone of a usurer despoiled.

"Take care, I really don't want you to speak of it."

"I've no desire to," said Sinang scornfully. "If it had been really
of importance I should have told my friends; but cocoanuts, cocoanuts,
who cares about cocoanuts!" and she ran off to find Maria.

Conversation languished, and Ibarra soon took his leave. Captain Tiago
was torn between the bitter and the sweet. Linares said nothing. Only
the curate affected gayety and recounted tales.

XLVI.

A CONSPIRACY.

The bell was announcing the time of prayer the evening after. At its
sound every one stopped his work and uncovered. The laborer coming from
the fields checked his song; the woman in the streets crossed herself;
the man caressed his cock and said the Angelus, that chance might favor
him. And yet the curate, to the great scandal of pious old ladies,
was running through the street toward the house of the alferez. He
dashed up the steps and kn