The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XLIII 202
Linares turned pale and allowed himself to be dragged along by the priest, who moved thoughtfully. Then it
was Padre Salvi's turn to pace back and forth, pensive as ever.
A voice wishing him good morning drew him from his monotonous walk. He raised his head and saw Lucas,
who saluted him humbly.
"What do you want?" questioned the curate's eyes.
"Padre, I'm the brother of the man who was killed on the day of the fiesta," began Lucas in tearful accents.
The curate recoiled and murmured in a scarcely audible voice, "Well?"
Lucas made an effort to weep and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. "Padre," he went on tearfully, "I've
been to Don Crisostomo to ask for an indemnity. First he received me with kicks, saying that he wouldn't pay
anything since he himself had run the risk of getting killed through the fault of my dear, unfortunate brother. I
went to talk to him yesterday, but he had gone to Manila. He left me five hundred pesos for charity's sake and
charged me not to come back again. Ah, Padre, five hundred pesos for my poor brother--five hundred pesos!
Ah, Padre--"
At first the curate had listened with surprise and attention while his lips curled slightly with a smile of such
disdain and sarcasm at the sight of this farce that, had Lucas noticed it, he would have run away at top speed.
"Now what do you want?" he asked, turning away.
"Ah, Padre, tell me for the love of God what I ought to do. The padre has always given good advice."
"Who told you so? You don't belong in these parts."
"The padre is known all over the province."
With irritated looks Padre Salvi approached him and pointing to the street said to the now startled Lucas, "Go
home and be thankful that Don Crisostomo didn't have you sent to jail! Get out of here!"
Lucas forgot the part he was playing and murmured, "But I thought--"
"Get out of here!" cried Padre Salvi nervously.
"I would like to see Padre Damaso."
"Padre Damaso is busy. Get out of here!" again ordered the curate imperiously.
Lucas went down the stairway muttering, "He's another of them--as he doesn't pay well--the one who pays
best!"
At the sound of the curate's voice all had hurried to the spot, including Padre Damaso, Capitan Tiago, and
Linares.
"An insolent vagabond who came to beg and who doesn't want to work," explained Padre Salvi, picking up his
hat and cane to return to the convento.