"Where have you been that you did not telegraph?" asked one of the ladies. "When I was married, we telegraphed to the Peninsula." "Señora, for the last two years I have been in northern Europe, in Germany and in Poland." "And what country of Europe do you like best?" asked the young blonde, who had been listening interestedly. "After Spain, which is my second fatherland, oh--any free country in Europe." "You seem to have travelled a great deal--what is the most remarkable thing that you have observed?" asked Laruja. Ibarra appeared to be reflecting on the question. "Remarkable? In what way?" "For instance, in the life of the different peoples,--their social, political and religious life----" Ibarra meditated for some little time. "I always made it a point to study the history of a country before visiting it, and I find that national development invariably follows perfectly natural rules. I have always noticed that the prosperity or poverty of different peoples is in direct proportion to their liberties or their lack of liberty, or, in other words, in proportion to the sacrifices or selfishness of their forefathers." "And is that all you have observed?" asked the Franciscan, with a loud laugh. Up to this time, he had not uttered a single word, but had given his attention to the dinner. "It was not worth while to squander your fortune for the purpose of learning such a trifle--a thing that every school boy knows." Ibarra looked at him intently, doubtful what to say. The guests glanced at each other, fearing that a quarrel would break out. "The dinner has been too long, and Your Reverence is affected by too much wine," Ibarra was about to reply, but he checked himself in time and only said: "Gentlemen, do not wonder at the familiarity with which our old parish priest treats me. He treated me this way when I was a child, and the years that have passed since then have not changed His Reverence. I derive a certain amount of pleasure from it, for I am reminded of those days when His Reverence was a frequent visitor at our house and honored my father's table." The Dominican glanced furtively at the Franciscan, who was trembling. Ibarra continued, rising from his chair: "You will allow me to withdraw, for I have only just arrived, and I must leave town to-morrow. Besides, I have a great many things to do before I leave. The dinner is practically finished, and I drink very little wine and scarcely touch spirits. Gentlemen, here's to Spain and the Philippines." Saying this, he emptied the glass, which, until then, he had not touched. The old lieutenant followed his example, but said nothing. "Do not go!" said Captain Tiago to him in a low voice. "Maria Clara is coming immediately. Isabel has just gone to get her. The new parish priest of your town is also coming, and he is a saint."