CHAPTER XIX
HIS EXCELLENCY.
"I want to speak with that young man," said His Excellency to an
adjutant. "He has awakened my interest."
"They have already gone to look for him, General! But there is a young
man here from Manila who insists on being introduced. We have told
him that Your Excellency has no time and that you have not come to
give audiences, but to see the town and the procession. But he has
replied that Your Excellency always has time to dispense justice."
His Excellency turned to the Alcalde as if in doubt.
"If I am not mistaken," said the latter, making a slight bow, "it
is a young man who this morning had a difficulty with Father Dámaso
about the sermon."
"Still another? Has this friar undertaken to disturb the province,
or does he think that he is in command here? Tell the young man to
come in!"
His Excellency was walking nervously from one end of the sala to
the other.
In the lower part of the house, in the ante-room, were several
Spaniards, mingled with army officers and officials of the town of
San Diego and some of the neighboring villages. They were grouped in
little circles and were conversing about one thing and another. All
of the friars were there except Father Dámaso, and they wanted to go
in and pay their respects to His Excellency.
"His Excellency, the Governor General, begs Your Reverences to wait
a moment," said the adjutant. "Walk in, young man!"
The young man from Manila entered the sala, pale and trembling.
Everybody was surprised. His Excellency must be irritated to dare to
make the friars wait. Father Sibyla said: "I have nothing to say to
him.... I am losing time here!"
"It's the same with me," said an Augustine. "Shall we go?"
"Would it not be better for us to find out what he thinks?" asked
Father Salví. "We would avoid a scandal ... and ... we would be able
to call to his mind his duty to ... the Church."
"Your Reverences can walk in, if you wish," announced the adjutant,
as he escorted out the young man, whose face was now, however,
glowing with satisfaction.
Friar Sibyla entered first. Behind him came Father Salví, Father
Manuel Martin and the other priests. They all humbly saluted the
Governor General, with the exception of Father Sibyla, who preserved
even in his bow, an air of superiority. Father Salví, on the contrary,
almost touched the floor with his head.
"Which of Your Reverences is Father Dámaso?" asked His Excellency
