The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER IV 41
each other and even perjure themselves, new charges were at once preferred. They accused him of having
illegally taken possession of a great deal of land and demanded damages. They said that he maintained
relations with the tulisanes in order that his crops and animals might not be molested by them. At last the case
became so confused that at the end of a year no one understood it. The alcalde had to leave and there came in
his place one who had the reputation of being honest, but unfortunately he stayed only a few months, and his
successor was too fond of good horses.
"The sufferings, the worries, the hard life in the prison, or the pain of seeing so much ingratitude, broke your
father's iron constitution and he fell ill with that malady which only the tomb can cure. When the case was
almost finished and he was about to be acquitted of the charge of being an enemy of the fatherland and of
being the murderer of the tax-collector, he died in the prison with no one at his side. I arrived just in time to
see him breathe his last."
The old lieutenant became silent, but still Ibarra said nothing. They had arrived meanwhile at the door of the
barracks, so the soldier stopped and said, as he grasped the youth's hand, "Young man, for details ask Capitan
Tiago. Now, good night, as I must return to duty and see that all's well."
Silently, but with great feeling, Ibarra shook the lieutenant's bony hand and followed him with his eyes until
he disappeared. Then he turned slowly and signaled to a passing carriage. "To Lala's Hotel," was the direction
he gave in a scarcely audible voice.
"This fellow must have just got out of jail," thought the cochero as he whipped up his horses.