ie in prison, eh?"

But he did not finish his remarks. Ibarra, his face flushing, had been
following him with his eyes. On hearing the allusion to his father,
he rose and, with a single bound, brought down his strong hand on the
head of the priest. Stunned with the blow, the friar fell on his back.

Full of astonishment and terror, no one dared to intervene.

"Keep back!" cried the young man, with a menacing voice, and
brandishing a sharp knife in his hand. In the meantime, he held
the friar down with his foot on his neck. The latter was recovering
consciousness. "Let no one approach who does not want to die!"

Ibarra was beside himself. His body trembled, and his threatening
eyes almost burst from their sockets. Friar Damaso struggled and
raised himself, but the young man, seizing him by the collar, shook
him till he fell on his knees and collapsed.

"Senor Ibarra! Senor Ibarra!" cried some.

But nobody, not even the alferez, dared to approach the glistening
blade, considering the strength of the young man and the state of
his mind. All were paralyzed.

"All of you people here have said nothing! Now the matter concerns
me! I have avoided him. God now brings him to me. Let God judge!"

The young man was breathing hard. With iron hand he held the Franciscan
down, and the latter struggled in vain to break loose.

"My heart beats tranquilly. My hand is sure."

He looked about him and continued: "Is there among you any one who
does not love his father; any one who hates his memory, any one
who was born in disgrace and humiliation? See! Do you observe this
silence? Priest of a peaceful God, with your mouth full of sanctity
and religion, and a miserable heart, you could not have known what
a father is. You should have thought of your own! Do you see? Among
this crowd which you scorn, there is none such as you! You are judged!"

The people around him made a stir, believing that he was going
to strike.

"Back!" he again cried in a threatening voice. "What? Do you fear
that I would soil my hand with his impure blood? Have I not told
you that my heart beats tranquilly? Back from us, all! Listen,
priests, judges, you who think yourselves different from other men,
and who claim other rights for yourselves! Listen! My father was an
honorable man. Ask these people who venerate his memory. My father
was a good citizen. He sacrificed himself for me and for the good of
his country! His house was open. His table was ready f