"You will see! When Señor Linares is our son-in-law all the palaces will be open to us. They will be envying us; they will all die with envy." And thus it was that at eight o'clock on the following evening, Captain Tiago's house was again full of guests, only that this time the men whom he had invited were either Spaniards or Chinamen, while the fair sex was represented by Spaniards born in the Peninsula or in the Philippines. The larger part of our acquaintances was there: Father Sibyla, Father Salví and several other Franciscans and Dominicans, the old lieutenant of the Civil Guard, Señor Guevara, more melancholy than ever; the alferez, who related his battle for the thousandth time, feeling himself head and shoulders above everybody and a veritable Don Juan de Austria, now a lieutenant with the rank of commander; De Espadaña, who looked at the former with respect and fear and avoided his glance; and the indignant Doña Victorina. Linares was not yet present, for, being a very important personage, it was fitting that he should arrive later than the others. Maria Clara, the subject of all the gossip, was the center of a group of women. She had greeted and received them ceremoniously, but did not throw off her air of sadness. "Psh!" said one of the girls. "A little stuck-up!" "A cute little thing," replied another, "but he might have selected some one of a more intelligent appearance." "It's the money; he's a good-looking fellow and sells himself for a good price." In another part of the room they were talking like this: "Marry, when her former betrothed is about to be hanged!" "I call that prudence; to have one on hand as a substitute." Possibly the young maiden heard these remarks as she sat in a chair near by, arranging a tray of flowers, for her hand was seen to tremble, she turned pale and bit her lips a number of times. The conversation among the men was in a loud tone. Naturally, they were conversant with the recent happenings. All were talking, even Don Tiburcio, with the exception of Father Sibyla, who maintained a disdainful silence. "I have heard that Your Reverence leaves the town, Father Salví?" asked the newly made lieutenant, now made more amiable by the star on his sleeve. "I have nothing more to do now in San Diego. I am permanently settled in Manila now ... and you?" "I also leave the town," replied the former alferez, straightening up. "The Government needs me to take command of a flying column to clear the provinces of filibusteros." Friar Salví looked him over from head to foot, and turned his back to him completely. "Is it yet known for a certainty what is to become of the leader of the revolutionists?" asked a Government employee. "Are you referring to Crisostomo Ibarra?" asked another. "What is most probable and most just is that he be hanged, as those were in '72." "He will be exiled," said the old lieutenant, dryly.