"Good, then! Now when do you expect to set out for San Lucas?" he asked. "Rosendo may return any day." "_Diablo!_ Then I must be off at once!" "To-morrow?" suggested Josè eagerly. "_Caramba, hermano!_ Why so desirous of my departure? To be sure, to-morrow, if possible. But I must have a chat with our good friend, the Alcalde. So do me the inexpressible favor to accompany me to his door, and there leave me. My _peones_ are down at the boat, and I would rather not face the people of Simití alone." "Gladly," assented Josè. The man rose to depart. At that moment Doña Maria appeared at the door bearing a tray with Josè's supper. She stopped short as she recognized Diego. "Ah, _Señora Doña Maria_!" exclaimed Diego, bowing low. "I kiss your hand." The woman looked inquiringly from Diego to Josè. Without a word she set the tray on the table and quickly departed. "H'm, _amigo_, I think it well to visit the Alcalde at once," murmured Diego. "I regret that I bring the amiable señora no greeting from her charming daughter. _Ay de mí!_" he sighed, picking up his hat. "The conventions of this world are so narrow!" Don Mario exclaimed loudly when he beheld the familiar figure of Padre Diego. Recovering from his astonishment he broke into a loud guffaw and clapped the grinning priest heartily upon the back. "_Caramba_, man! But I admire you at last! I can forgive all your wickedness at sight of such nerve! Ramona!" calling to his daughter in the _patio_. "That last _garrafón_ and some glasses! But enter, enter, señores! Why stand you there? My poor hovel is yours!" stepping aside and ceremoniously waving them in. "Our friend finds that his supper awaits him," said Diego, laying a hand patronizingly upon Josè's arm. "But I will eat with you, my good Don Mario, and occupy a _petate_ on your floor to-night. _Conque_, until later, Don Josè," waving a polite dismissal to the latter. "If not to-night, then in the morning _temprano_." The audacity of the man nettled Josè. He would have liked to be present during the interview between the Alcalde and this cunning religio-political agent, for he knew that the weak-kneed Don Mario would be putty in his oily hands. However, Diego had shown him that he was not wanted. And there was nothing to do but nurse his temper and await events. But, whatever deplorable results the visit of Diego might entail, he had at least brought present comfort to Josè in his report of the militant uprising now in progress, and the latter would sleep this night without the torment of dread apprehension. The next morning Diego entered the parish house just as master and pupil were beginning their day's work. "Ha!" he exclaimed, "our parochial school is quite discriminating! No? One pupil! _Bien_, are there not enough children in the town to warrant a larger school, and with a Sister in charge? I will report the matter to the good Bishop."