An Eagle Flight

of the

d Father Dámaso he had seen, on his way to

en the monk arrived. "Where are you going?" he asked, and i

t to get my th

nger, we shall see!" he murmured, as he left the

his sermon," said Aunt I

sermon, but he must have been absorbed in important t

must have a serious tal

nothing, but followed the gigantic pr

us see what has bec

der, which stands at the entrance to the city, near the gate bearing alternately

crossed several halls,

said a fa

armchair was an old priest, meagre, jaundiced, like Rivera's saints. His eyes, deep-sunken

ed. He inclined his he

An operation at my age! Oh, this country, this terrible

s your rever

h, but-I've made others suffer. I'm paying my d

k of the missi

hat is the

byla wearily. "Young Ibarra seems a sensible fello

it

es began y

and

ted what had passed between B

ptain Tiago, who was educated at the convent of our sisters. He is rich; he would not

ved his hand in

s, body and soul. But if he declare h

ooked at the old

d, breathing with difficulty; "I prefer attack to the flatt

rence beli

n looked a

s it's believed in. If we're attacked, the Government reasons: 'They are assailed

mies, if it should come to covet what we have a

hen be

were

we have fallen in Europe. Money will no longer come to our churches. No one will buy scapulary, penitential cords, anything; and when we cease to be rich, we can no longer convince the conscience. And the worst is, that we'

lways have

uy of others. The people are beginning to murmur. We ought not

ce believes that

he old man with aversion. "You say the

hought it must have been the same with Brother Dámaso. 'And your threat?' I asked jestingly. 'Father,' said he, 'I kno

o go to Malaca?ang, the captain-general none the less

ve it?" demanded His

De L

neral smiled a

in skirts. Besides, the provincial made light of my orders; to punish this priest I demande

xcellency ce

, how easy to bridle their reverence

o finished his confere

have been avoided if you hadn't equivocated when I asked you how the m

ng. Then suddenly, as if a happy thought had struck him, running to the or