CHAPTER XXXIV
THE DISCOVERY.
The bell announces the hour of evening prayer. On hearing the
religious sound, all stop, leave their work and uncover their heads;
the laborer, coming from the fields on the carabao's back, suspends
the song to which the animal keeps step, and prays; the women in the
middle of the street make the sign of the cross, and move their lips
with affectation so that no one may doubt their devotion: the man
stops fondling his game-cock and recites the Angelus so that he may
have good luck; in the houses, they pray in a loud voice ... every
sound which is not a part of the Ave Maria is dissipated, silenced.
However, the curate, without his hat, hastily crosses the street,
scandalizing many old women. And still more scandalous, he directs
his steps towards the alferez's house. The devout women think that
it is time for them to stop the movement of their lips and to kiss
the curate's hand, but Father Salví takes no notice of them. To-day
he finds no pleasure in placing his bony hand under a Christian's
nose. Some important business must be occupying him that he should
so forget his own interests and those of the Church!
He goes up the stairs and knocks impatiently at the alferez's door. The
latter appears, his eyebrows knit and followed by his better half,
who smiles malignantly.
"Ah, Father Curate! I was just going to see you. Your he-goat...."
"I have a most important matter...."
"I can't allow your goat to go on breaking down my fence.... I'll
shoot him if he gets in there again."
"That is if you are alive to-morrow," said the curate, breathless,
and directing himself toward the sala.
"What! do you think that that seven-months-old puppy will kill me? I'll
kick him to pieces."
Father Salví stepped back and looked instinctively at the feet of
the alferez.
"Whom are you talking about?" asked he, trembling.
"Of whom could I be talking but that big blockhead who proposes to
challenge me to a duel with revolvers at one hundred paces?"
"Ah!" sighed the curate, and added: "I have come to speak about a
most urgent matter which seriously concerns the life of all of us."
"Seriously!" repeated the alferez, turning pale in turn. "Does this
young fellow shoot well...?"
"I am not speaking about him."
"Then?"
The friar pointed to the door which the alferez shut in his customary
manner, by a kick. The alferez usually found his hands superfluous. An
