he young
man, and putting a piece of bamboo to a flame. "I have made a great
discovery. This bamboo is incombustible...."

"Don't talk about bamboo now, Senor. Talk about collecting your papers
and fleeing in a minute."

Ibarra looked at him surprised, and, on seeing the seriousness in
Elias's countenance, he dropped the object which he had in his hands.

"Burn everything that can possibly implicate you in any way and put
yourself in a more secure place within an hour."

"And what for?" he asked at last.

"Put all that you have of value in a secure place...."

"And what for?"

"Burn all papers written by you or to you. The most innocent can be
interpreted in a bad sense."

"But what for?"

"What for? Because I have just discovered a conspiracy which will be
attributed to you in order to ruin you."

"A conspiracy? And who has planned it?"

"I have been unable to learn the author of it. Only a moment ago I
was talking with one of the unfortunate men who have been paid for
it. I could not dissuade him."

"And didn't that fellow say who paid him?"

"Yes. Asking me to keep the secret, he told me that it was you."

"My God!" exclaimed Ibarra. He stood stupefied.

"Senor, don't hesitate, don't doubt, don't lose time, for undoubtedly
the conspiracy will break out this very night."

Ibarra, with staring eyes, and hands holding his head, seemed not to
hear him.

"The blow cannot be thwarted," continued Elias. "I have arrived too
late. I do not know their leaders ... save yourself, Senor, save
yourself for the sake of your country."

"Where shall I flee? They are expecting me this evening," exclaimed
Ibarra, thinking of Maria Clara.

"To any other town, to Manila, to the house of some official; only
flee somewhere so that they will not say that you are directing
the movement."

"And if I myself denounce the conspiracy?"

"You denounce it?" exclaimed Elias, looking at him, and stepping
back. "You would pass for a traitor and a coward in the eyes of
the conspirators, and for a pusillanimous person in the eyes of
others. They would say that you had played a trick to win some praise,
they would say...."

"But what can be done?"

"Already I have told you. Destroy all the papers you have which relate
to you; flee and await developments."

"And Maria Clara?" exclaimed the young man. "No; death first!"

Elias wrung his hands and said:

"Well, then, at least avoid the blow. Prepare yourself against their