Makaraig, looking earnestly at
Isagani. "Senor Pasta has a dancing girl--I mean, a seamstress."

Isagani again shook his head.

"Don't be such a puritan," Juanito Pelaez said to him. "The end
justifies the means! I know the seamstress, Matea, for she has a shop
where a lot of girls work."

"No, gentlemen," declared Isagani, "let's first employ decent
methods. I'll go to Senor Pasta and, if I don't accomplish anything,
then you can do what you wish with the dancing girls and seamstresses."

They had to accept this proposition, agreeing that Isagani should
talk to Senor Pasta that very day, and in the afternoon report to
his associates at the University the result of the interview.

CHAPTER XV

SENOR PASTA

Isagani presented himself in the house of the lawyer, one of the
most talented minds in Manila, whom the friars consulted in their
great difficulties. The youth had to wait some time on account of the
numerous clients, but at last his turn came and he entered the office,
or _bufete_, as it is generally called in the Philippines. The lawyer
received him with a slight cough, looking down furtively at his feet,
but he did not rise or offer a seat, as he went on writing. This gave
Isagani an opportunity for observation and careful study of the lawyer,
who had aged greatly. His hair was gray and his baldness extended
over nearly the whole crown of his head. His countenance was sour
and austere.

There was complete silence in the study, except for the whispers of the
clerks and understudies who were at work in an adjoining room. Their
pens scratched as though quarreling with the paper.

At length the lawyer finished what he was writing, laid down his pen,
raised his head, and, recognizing the youth, let his face light up
with a smile as he extended his hand affectionately.

"Welcome, young man! But sit down, and excuse me, for I didn't know
that it was you. How is your uncle?"

Isagani took courage, believing that his case would get on well. He
related briefly what had been done, the while studying the effect of
his words. Senor Pasta listened impassively at first and, although
he was informed of the efforts of the students, pretended ignorance,
as if to show that he had nothing to do with such childish matters,
but when he began to suspect what was wanted of him and heard mention
of the Vice-Rector, friars, the Captain-General, a project, and so on,
his face slowly darkened and he finally exclaimed,