"See here!" continued the Franciscan, again cutting off the alcalde. "See how one of our lay brothers, the most stupid one we have, built a hospital. He paid the workmen eight cuartos a day, and got them from other pueblos, too. Not much like these young feather-brains who ruin workmen, paying them three or four reales!" "Does your reverence say he paid but eight cuartos? Impossible!" said the alcalde, hoping to change the course of the conversation. "Yes, senor, and so should those do who pride themselves upon being good Spaniards. Since the opening of the Suez Canal, corruption has reached even here! When the Cape had to be doubled, not so many ruined men came here, and fewer went abroad to ruin themselves!" "But Father Damaso----" "You know the Indian; as soon as he has learned anything, he takes a title. All these beardless youths who go to Europe----" "But, your reverence, listen----" began the alcalde, alarmed by the harshness of these words. "Finish as they merit," continued the priest. "The hand of God is in it; he is blind who does not see that. Already even the fathers of these reptiles receive their chastisement; they die in prison! Ah----" He did not finish. Ibarra, livid, had been watching him. At these words he rose, gave one bound, and struck out with his strong hand. The monk, stunned by the blow, fell backward. Surprised and terrified, not one of the spectators moved. "Let no one come near!" said the young man in a terrible voice, drawing his slender blade, and holding the neck of the priest with his foot. "Let no one come, unless he wishes to die." Ibarra was beside himself, his whole body trembled, his threatening eyes were big with rage. Father Damaso, regaining his senses, made an effort to rise, but Crisostomo, grasping his neck, shook him till he had brought him to his knees. "Senor de Ibarra! Senor de Ibarra!" stammered one and another. But nobody, not even the alferez, risked a movement. They saw the knife glitter; they calculated Crisostomo's strength, unleashed by anger; they were paralyzed. "All you here, you have said nothing. Now it rests with me. I avoided him; God brings him to me. Let God judge!" Ibarra breathed with effort, but his arm of iron kept harsh hold of the Franciscan, who struggled in vain to free himself. "My heart beats true, my hand is firm----" And he looked about him. "I ask you first, is there among you any one who has not loved his father, who has not loved his father's memory; any one born in shame and abasement? See, hear this silence! Priest of a God of peace, thy mouth full of sanctity and religion, thy heart of corruption! Thou canst not know what it is to be a father; thou shouldst have thought of thy own! See, in all this crowd that you scorn there is not one like you! You are judged!" The guests, believing he was going to strike, made their first movement.