The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XLVII 220
in the recesses of their minds. Since all four talked at once and said so many things that might hurt the
prestige of certain classes by the truths that were brought to light, we forbear from recording what they said.
The curious spectators, while they may not have understood all that was said, got not a little entertainment out
of the scene and hoped that the affair would come to blows. Unfortunately for them, the curate came along
and restored order.
"Señores! Señoras! What a shame! Señor Alferez!"
"What are you doing here, you hypocrite, Carlist!"
"Don Tiburcio, take your wife away! Señora, hold your tongue!"
"Say that to these robbers of the poor!"
Little by little the lexicon of epithets was exhausted, the review of shamelessness of the two couples
completed, and with threats and insults they gradually drew away from one another. Fray Salvi moved from
one group to the other, giving animation to the scene. Would that our friend the correspondent had been
present!
"This very day we'll go to Manila and see the Captain-General!" declared the raging Doña Victorina to her
husband. "You're not a man! It's a waste of money to buy trousers for you!"
"B-but, woman, the g-guards? I'm l-lame!"
"You must challenge him for pistol or sword, or--or--" Doña Victorina stared fixedly at his false teeth.
"My d-dear, I've never had hold of a--"
But she did not let him finish. With a majestic sweep of her hand she snatched out his false teeth and trampled
them in the street.
Thus, he half-crying and she breathing fire, they reached the house. Linares was talking with Maria Clara,
Sinang, and Victoria, and as he had heard nothing of the quarrel, became rather uneasy at sight of his cousins.
Maria Clara, lying in an easy-chair among pillows and wraps, was greatly surprised to see the new
physiognomy of her doctor.
"Cousin," began Doña Victorina, "you must challenge the alferez right away, or--"
"Why?" asked the startled Linares.
"You challenge him right now or else I'll tell everybody here who you are."
"But, Doña Victorina!"
The three girls exchanged glances.
"You'll see! The alferez has insulted us and said that you are what you are! His old hag came down with a
whip and he, this thing here, permitted the insult--a man!"
"Abá!" exclaimed Sinang, "they're had a fight and we didn't see it!"
"The alferez smashed the doctor's teeth," observed Victoria.