The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER LIV 244
CHAPTER LIV
Revelations
Quidquid latet, adparebit, Nil inultum remanebit. [143]
The vesper bells are ringing, and at the holy sound all pause, drop their tasks, and uncover. The laborer
returning from the fields ceases the song with which he was pacing his carabao and murmurs a prayer, the
women in the street cross themselves and move their lips affectedly so that none may doubt their piety, a man
stops caressing his game-cock and recites the angelus to bring better luck, while inside the houses they pray
aloud. Every sound but that of the Ave Maria dies away, becomes hushed.
Nevertheless, the curate, without his hat, rushes across the street, to the scandalizing of many old women, and,
greater scandal still, directs his steps toward the house of the alferez. The devout women then think it time to
cease the movement of their lips in order to kiss the curate's hand, but Padre Salvi takes no notice of them.
This evening he finds no pleasure in placing his bony hand on his Christian nose that he may slip it down
dissemblingly (as Doña Consolacion has observed) over the bosom of the attractive young woman who may
have bent over to receive his blessing. Some important matter must be engaging his attention when he thus
forgets his own interests and those of the Church!
In fact, he rushes headlong up the stairway and knocks impatiently at the alferez's door. The latter puts in his
appearance, scowling, followed by his better half, who smiles like one of the damned.
"Ah, Padre, I was just going over to see you. That old goat of yours--"
"I have a very important matter--"
"I can't stand for his running about and breaking down the fence. I'll shoot him if he comes back!"
"That is, if you are alive tomorrow!" exclaimed the panting curate as he made his way toward the sala.
"What, do you think that puny doll will kill me? I'll bust him with a kick!"
Padre Salvi stepped backward with an involuntary glance toward the alferez's feet. "Whom are you talking
about?" he asked tremblingly.
"About whom would I talk but that simpleton who has challenged me to a duel with revolvers at a hundred
paces?"
"Ah!" sighed the curate, then he added, "I've come to talk to you about a very urgent matter."
"Enough of urgent matters! It'll be like that affair of the two boys."
Had the light been other than from coconut oil and the lamp globe not so dirty, the alferez would have noticed
the curate's pallor.
"Now this is a serious matter, which concerns the lives of all of us," declared Padre Salvi in a low voice.
"A serious matter?" echoed the alferez, turning pale. "Can that boy shoot straight?"
"I'm not talking about him."