nant even than
his Excellency.

"It's more immoral that vice has good buildings and learning
none. Let's be practical, gentlemen, and not be carried away by
sentiment. In politics there's nothing worse than sentiment. While
from humane considerations we forbid the cultivation of opium in our
colonies, we tolerate the smoking of it, and the result is that we
do not combat the vice but impoverish ourselves."

"But remember that it yields to the government, without any effort,
more than four hundred and fifty thousand pesos," objected Padre Irene,
who was getting more and more on the governmental side.

"Enough, enough, enough!" exclaimed his Excellency, to end the
discussion. "I have my own plans in this regard and will devote special
attention to the matter of public instruction. Is there anything else?"

The secretary looked uneasily toward Padre Sibyla and Padre Irene. The
cat was about to come out of the bag. Both prepared themselves.

"The petition of the students requesting authorization to open an
academy of Castilian," answered the secretary.

A general movement was noted among those in the room. After glancing
at one another they fixed their eyes on the General to learn what
his disposition would be. For six months the petition had lain there
awaiting a decision and had become converted into a kind of _casus
belli_ in certain circles. His Excellency had lowered his eyes,
as if to keep his thoughts from being read.

The silence became embarrassing, as the General understood, so he
asked the high official, "What do you think?"

"What should I think, General?" responded the person addressed, with
a shrug of his shoulders and a bitter smile. "What should I think
but that the petition is just, very just, and that I am surprised
that six months should have been taken to consider it."

"The fact is that it involves other considerations," said Padre Sibyla
coldly, as he half closed his eyes.

The high official again shrugged his shoulders, like one who did not
comprehend what those considerations could be.

"Besides the intemperateness of the demand," went on the Dominican,
"besides the fact that it is in the nature of an infringement on
our prerogatives--"

Padre Sibyla dared not go on, but looked at Simoun.

"The petition has a somewhat suspicious character," corroborated
that individual, exchanging a look with the Dominican, who winked
several times.

Padre Irene noticed these things and realized tha