"I shall cherish all my life the memory of Your Excellency's kindness," replied Ibarra, moved by what the Governor General had said. "But I ought to live in the country where my fathers have lived...." "Where they have died, you should say, to speak more exactly. Believe me! I possibly know your country better than you do yourself.... Ah! Now I remember," he exclaimed changing the tone of his voice. "You are going to marry a lovely girl and I am keeping you here! Go, go to her side, and that you may have greater liberty send her father to me," he added, smiling. "Do not forget, however, that I want you to accompany me for a walk." Ibarra bowed and departed. His Excellency called his adjutant. "I am happy," said he, giving him a light slap on the shoulder. "To-day I have seen for the first time how one can be a good Spaniard without ceasing to be a good Filipino and to love his country. To-day, at last, I have shown the Reverences that we are not all their playthings. This young man has afforded me the opportunity, and, in a short time, I will have settled all of my accounts with the friar. It's a pity that this young man, some day or other ... but call the Alcalde to me." The latter presented himself at once. "Señor Alcalde," he said to him, as he entered the room, "in order to avoid a repetition of scenes such as Your Honor witnessed this afternoon, scenes which I deplore because they take away the prestige of the Government and all Spaniards, I want to commend to you warmly Señor Ibarra, that you may not only aid him in carrying out his patriotic ends, but also prevent in the future any person of whatever class or under whatever pretext, from molesting him." The Alcalde understood the reprimand and bowed to conceal his confusion. "Have the alferez, who is in command here, informed to the same effect. And you will find out if it is true that this officer has methods of procedure that are not in accordance with the regulations. I have heard more than one complaint on this score." Captain Tiago, all starched and ironed, presented himself. "Don Santiago," said His Excellency, in a cordial tone of voice, "a little while ago I was congratulating you on having a daughter like the Señorita de los Santos. Now I want to congratulate you on your future son-in-law. The most virtuous of daughters is certainly worthy of the best citizen of the Philippines. Is the date of the wedding known?" "Señor!" stammered the Captain, wiping away the perspiration which was running down his face. "O, come! I see that there is nothing definite. If you need godfathers, I will be one of them with the greatest pleasure. I would do it to take away the bad taste which so many of the weddings which I have attended here have left in my mouth," he added, turning to the Alcalde. "Yes, señor!" replied Captain Tiago, with a smile which inspired compassion.