"But the proof? Have you proof? You need proof!" exclaimed Crisostomo, deeply agitated. The maiden drew two letters from her bosom. "Two of my mother's letters: two letters written in remorse before I was born. Take them, read them and you will see how she cursed me and desired my death, which my father in vain tried to cause by drugs. These letters were forgotten in the house where he lived; a man found them and kept them. They would only give them to me in exchange for your letter ... to make certain, as they said, that I would not marry you without the consent of my father. From the time that I began to carry them in my bosom instead of your letter, my heart was chilled. I sacrificed you, I sacrificed my love.... What would not a person do for a dead mother and two living fathers? Did I suspect the use to which they were going to put your letter?" Ibarra was prostrated. Maria Clara went on: "What was there left for me? Could I tell you who was my father? Could I ask you to seek the pardon of him who had so much desired my death, and who made your father suffer? There was nothing left for me but to keep the secret to myself, and to die suffering.... Now, my friend, you know the sad history of your poor Maria. Will you still have that contemptuous smile for her?" "Maria, you are a saint." "I am happy now that you believe me." "However," added the young man, changing his tone. "I have heard that you are about to marry." "Yes," sobbed the maiden. "My father asked this sacrifice of me. He has fed me and loved me, and it was not his duty. I pay him this debt of gratitude which I owe him by assuring him peace through this new relative, but ..." "But?" "I shall not forget the oaths of fidelity which I made to you." "What do you think of doing?" asked Ibarra, trying to read her eyes. "The future is obscure and Destiny is hidden in darkness. I do not know what I am to do; but I know that I can love only once, and that without love I never will belong to any one. And you, what is to become of you?" "I am nothing but a fugitive.... I am fleeing. In a very short time, they will discover my escape, Maria...." Maria Clara clasped her arms about her lover's neck, kissed his lips repeatedly, hugged him, and then, abruptly breaking away from him, said: "Flee! flee! Adios!" Ibarra looked at her, his eyes sparkling, but she motioned and he went away, staggering like a drunken man. Again he leaped over the wall and entered the banca. Maria Clara, leaning on the door casing, watched him depart. Elias took off his hat and bowed profoundly. CHAPTER XL THE PURSUIT ON THE LAKE. "Listen, Señor, to my plan," said Elias, as they directed the banca toward San Miguel. "I will for the present hide you in the house of my friend in Mandaluyong. I will bring you all your money, which I have saved and kept for you at the foot of the old balitî tree, in the mysterious tomb of your grandfather. You shall leave the country."