The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER LIV 245
"Then, what?"
The friar made a sign toward the door, which the alferez closed in his own way--with a kick, for he had found
his hands superfluous and had lost nothing by ceasing to be bimanous.
A curse and a roar sounded outside. "Brute, you've split my forehead open!" yelled his wife.
"Now, unburden yourself," he said calmly to the curate.
The latter stared at him for a space, then asked in the nasal, droning voice of the preacher, "Didn't you see me
come--running?"
"Sure! I thought you'd lost something."
"Well, now," continued the curate, without heeding the alferez's rudeness, "when I fail thus in my duty, it's
because there are grave reasons."
"Well, what else?" asked the other, tapping the floor with his foot.
"Be calm!"
"Then why did you come in such a hurry?"
The curate drew nearer to him and asked mysteriously, "Haven't--you--heard--anything?"
The alferez shrugged his shoulders.
"You admit that you know absolutely nothing?"
"Do you want to talk about Elias, who put away your senior sacristan last night?" was the retort.
"No, I'm not talking about those matters," answered the curate ill-naturedly. "I'm talking about a great
danger."
"Well, damn it, out with it!"
"Come," said the friar slowly and disdainfully, "you see once more how important we ecclesiastics are. The
meanest lay brother is worth as much as a regiment, while a curate--"
Then he added in a low and mysterious tone, "I've discovered a big conspiracy!"
The alferez started up and gazed in astonishment at the friar.
"A terrible and well-organized plot, which will be carried out this very night."
"This very night!" exclaimed the alferez, pushing the curate aside and running to his revolver and sword
hanging on the wall.
"Who'll I arrest? Who'll I arrest?" he cried.
"Calm yourself! There is still time, thanks to the promptness with which I have acted. We have till eight
o'clock."