aimed the alferez, moving at first toward
Father Salvi, and then running after his revolver and saber,
which were hanging on the wall: "Whom shall I arrest? Whom shall I
arrest?" he cried.

"Be calm. It is not yet time, thanks to my great haste. At eight
o'clock."

"I'll shoot them all!"

"Listen! This afternoon a woman, whose name I must not mention (it
is a secret of the confessional) came to me and disclosed it all. At
eight o'clock they will take the cuartel by surprise, sack the convent,
seize the Government's steamboat and assassinate all the Spaniards."

The alferez was stupified.

"The woman has not told more than that," added the curate.

"Has not told you more? Then I'll arrest her!"

"No; I cannot consent to it. The tribunal of penitence is the throne
of God of forgiveness."

"Neither God nor forgiveness count in this matter. I'll arrest her."

"You are losing your head. What you ought to do is to prepare
yourself. Arm your soldiers quietly and put them in ambush. Send me
four Guards for the convent and notify the people on the Government
steamboat."

"The boat is not here. I'll send to other sections for aid."

"They would notice that and would not go on with their plans. No,
don't do that. What is important is that we catch them alive and make
them talk; I say, you will make them disclose the conspiracy. I, in the
capacity of a priest, ought not to mix myself in these matters. Now's
your chance! Here you can win crosses and stars. I ask only that you
make it evident that I am the one who warned you."

"It will be made evident, Father, it will be made evident! And perhaps
a mitre will fall to you!" replied the radiant alferez.

"Be sure and send me four un-uniformed Civil Guards, eh? Be
discreet! To-night at eight o'clock, it will rain stars and crosses."

While this was going on, a man came running down the road which led
to Ibarra's house, and quickly went up the stairs.

"Is the Senor at home?" asked Elias of the servant.

"He is in his laboratory at work."

Ibarra, in order to pass the time while he impatiently waited for the
hour when he could make explanations to Maria Clara, had gone to work
in his cabinet.

"Ah, is it you, Elias?" he exclaimed. "I was thinking about
you. Yesterday, I forgot to ask you for the name of that Spaniard in
whose house your grandfather lived."

"Don't bother yourself, Senor, about me...."

"Look!" continued Ibarra, without noting the agitation of t