"Would it not be better to find out what he thinks?" asked Brother
Salvi. "We should avoid a scandal, and we could remind him--of his
duty----"

"Your reverences may enter," said the aid, conducting back the young
man, who came out radiant.

The fathers went in and saluted the governor.

"Who among your reverences is the Brother Damaso?" demanded His
Excellency at once, without asking them to be seated or inquiring for
their health, and without any of those complimentary phrases which
form the repertory of dignitaries.

"Senor, Father Damaso is not with us," replied Father Sibyla, in a
tone almost as dry.

"Your Excellency's servant is ill," added the humble Brother Salvi. "We
come, after saluting Your Excellency and inquiring for his health,
to speak in the name of Your Excellency's respectful servant, who
has had the misfortune----"

"Oh!" interrupted the captain-general, with a nervous smile, while he
twirled a chair on one leg. "If all the servants of my Excellency were
like the Father Damaso, I should prefer to serve my Excellency myself!"

Their reverences did not seem to know what to reply.

"Won't your reverences sit down?" added the governor in more
conventional tone.

Captain Tiago, in evening dress and walking on tiptoe, came in,
leading by the hand Maria Clara, hesitating, timid. Overcoming her
agitation, she made her salute, at once ceremonial and graceful.

"This signorita is your daughter!" exclaimed the surprised
governor. "Happy the fathers whose daughters are like you,
signorita. They have told me about you, and I wish to thank you in the
name of His Majesty the King, who loves the peace and tranquillity
of his subjects, and in my own name, in that of a father who has
daughters. If there is anything you would wish, signorita----"

"Senor!" protested Maria, trembling.

"The Senor Don Juan Crisostomo Ibarra awaits Your Excellency's orders,"
announced the ringing voice of the aide-de-camp.

"Permit me, signorita, to see you again before I leave the pueblo. I
have yet things to say to you. Senor acalde, Your Highness will
accompany me on the walk I wish to take after the private conference
I shall have with the Senor Ibarra."

"Your Excellency," said Father Salvi humbly, "will permit us to inform
him that the Senor Ibarra is excommunicated----"

The general broke in.

"I am happy," he said, "in being troubled about nothing but the state
of Father Damaso. I sincerely desire his complet