oduce a favorite theme.

"I suppose that Senor de Rey is very expert in archaeological matters
also," said the canon, who, still implacable, pursued his victim to his
last retreat.

"Of course," said Dona Perfecta. "What is there that these clever
children of our day do not understand? They have all the sciences at
their fingers' ends. The universities and the academics teach them every
thing in a twinkling, giving them a patent of learning."

"Oh, that is unjust!" responded the canon, observing the pained
expression of the engineer's countenance.

"My aunt is right," declared Pepe. "At the present day we learn a little
of every thing, and leave school with the rudiments of various studies."

"I was saying," continued the canon, "that you are no doubt a great
archaeologist."

"I know absolutely nothing of that science," responded the young man.
"Ruins are ruins, and I have never cared to cover myself with dust going
among them."

Don Cayetano made an expressive grimace.

"That is not to say that I condemn archaeology," said Dona Perfecta's
nephew quickly, observing with pain that he could not utter a word
without wounding some one. "I know that from that dust issues history.
Those studies are delightful and very useful."

"You," said the Penitentiary, putting his toothpick into the last of
his back teeth, "are no doubt more inclined to controversial studies. An
excellent idea has just occurred to me, Senor Don Jose; you ought to be
a lawyer."

"Law is a profession which I abhor," replied Pepe Rey. "I know many
estimable lawyers, among them my father, who is the best of men; but,
in spite of so favorable a specimen, I could never had brought myself to
practise a profession which consists in defending with equal readiness
the _pro_ and the _contra_ of a question. I know of no greater
misjudgment, no greater prejudice, no greater blindness, than parents
show in their eagerness to dedicate their sons to the law. The chief and
the most terrible plague of Spain is the crowd of our young lawyers, for
whose existence a fabulous number of lawsuits are necessary. Lawsuits
multiply in proportion to the demand. And even thus, numbers are left
without employment, and, as a jurisconsult cannot put his hand to
the plough or seat himself at the loom, the result is that brilliant
squadron of idlers full of pretensions, who clamor for places, embarrass
the administration, agitate public opinion, and breed revolutions. In
som