There is in the town where Juli lives a friar, Father Camorra, of great power in the Government. An old woman urges Juli to go to the convento [154] and beg the intercession of Father Camorra. A word from him will be enough to save Basilio’s life. Juli knows well enough what is the real nature of the sacrifice demanded of her; so many a Filipino girl has walked or been dragged along that road to destruction. The reports about the students grow worse. At last it appears that Basilio has been condemned to death and in twenty-four hours will stand before the firing-squad. Not a hope remains except through the intercession of Father Camorra. The old woman beseeches; still Juli refuses. At last she is forced to the door of the convento. That night a woman, screaming wildly, throws herself from an upper window of the house. When help comes to her she is dead. The body is recognized as that of Juli. [155] Basilio escapes the executioner. When he learns of the fate of Juli he joins Simoun, the disguised Ibarra, who has tried in vain to interest him in the plans for a revolution. The other story concerns Isagani, type of the educated and ambitious young Filipino, and Paulita, type of the exquisite native beauty. Isagani is deeply in love. Nevertheless, he puts fidelity to his country above even the idol of his heart. He is a leader among the discontented students. They do not think of sedition but only of reforms peacefully achieved, the Rizal idea of progress. An opportunity arising, Isagani speaks with the greatest frankness to Father Fernandez, a Dominican friar, and one of the instructors at the university. Their conversation gives the author a chance to expose the defects in the system of higher education—so called. He does more than expose it; he blasts and withers it. [156] Isagani never hesitates to speak his opinions about these things, though always professing perfect loyalty. He is arrested with the other students in the dog-day fit that has seized upon the authorities. At the news the relatives of Paulita insist that she shall cast over a lover so notorious and so dangerous. It is Rizal and Leonora again. Paulita yields to them; she allows herself to be engaged to Isagani’s rival and the date is fixed for her wedding. It is the date that Simoun selects for the consummation of his plot. Basilio agrees to help him. Paulita’s relatives are rich; they have invited the most eminent persons in the colony, including the governor-general himself. Simoun, the wealthy jeweler, will be there. He has arranged with bands of tulisanes and certain discontented peasants to gather on that date to attack the city. An explosion like the firing of a cannon is to be their signal.