The one-armed man turned around. “Is that so? Why?” he asked with shining eyes.
“She said that it was a Christmas gift—”
“But Christmas doesn’t come for a month yet!”
“Perhaps she’s afraid the storm is blowing her way,” observed the fat lady.
“And is getting under cover,” added the thin señora.
“When no return is asked, it’s a confession of guilt.”
“This must be carefully looked into,” declared the one-armed man thoughtfully.
“I fear that there’s a cat in the bag.”
“A cat in the bag, yes! That’s just what I was going to say,” echoed the thin lady.
“And so was I,” said the other, taking the words out of her mouth, “the wife of Capitan Tinong is so stingy—she hasn’t yet sent us any present and that after we’ve been in her house. So, when such a grasping and covetous woman lets go of a little present worth a thousand pesos—”
“But, is it a fact?” inquired the one-armed man.
“Certainly! Most certainly! My cousin’s sweetheart, his Excellency’s adjutant, told her so. And I’m of the opinion that it’s the very same ring that the older daughter wore on the day of the fiesta. She’s always covered with diamonds.”
“A walking show-case!”
“A way of attracting attention, like any other! Instead of buying a fashion plate or paying a dressmaker—”
Giving some pretext, the one-armed man left the gathering. Two hours later, when the world slept, various residents of Tondo received an invitation through some soldiers. The authorities could not consent to having certain persons of position and property sleep in such poorly guarded and badly ventilated houses
—in Fort Santiago and other government buildings their sleep would be calmer
and more refreshing. Among these favored persons was included the unfortunate Capitan Tinong.
1 The Marianas, or Ladrone Islands, were used as a place of banishment for political prisoners.—TR.
2 “Evil Omen,” a nickname applied by the friars to General Joaquin Jovellar, who was governor of the Islands from 1883 to 1885. It fell to the lot of General Jovellar, a kindly old man, much more soldier than administrator, to attempt the introduction of certain salutary reforms tending toward progress, hence his disfavor with the holy fathers. The mention of “General J———” in the last part of the epilogue probably refers also to him.—TR.
3 A celebrated Italian astronomer, member of the Jesuit Order. The Jesuits are still in charge of the Observatory of Manila.—TR.
4 “Our Lady of the Girdle” is the patroness of the Augustinian Order.—TR.
5 This image is in the six-million-peso steel church of St. Sebastian in Manila. Something of her early history is thus given by Fray Luis de Jesus in his Historia of the Recollect Order (1681): “A very holy image is revered there under the title of Carmen. Although that image is small in stature, it is a great and perennial spring of prodigies for those who invoke her. Our religious took it from Nueva España (Mexico), and even in that very navigation she was able to make herself known by her miracles .... That most holy image is daily frequented with vows, presents, and novenas, thank-offerings of the many who are daily favored by that queen of the skies.”—Blair and Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vol. XXI, p. 195.
6 The oldest and most conservative newspaper in Manila at the time this work was written.—TR.
7 Following closely upon the liberal administration of La Torre, there occurred in the Cavite arsenal in 1872
a mutiny which was construed as an incipient rebellion, and for alleged complicity in it three native priests, Padres Burgos, Gomez, and Zamora, were garroted, while a number of prominent Manilans were deported.
—TR.
8 What do I see? ... Wherefore?
9 What do you wish? Nothing is in the intellect which has not first passed through the senses; nothing is willed that is not already in the mind.
10 Where in the world are we?
11 The uprising of Ibarra suppressed by the alferez of the Civil Guard? And now?
12 Friend, Plato is dear but truth is dearer ... It’s a bad business and a horrible result from these things is to be feared.
13 Against him who denies the fundamentals, clubs should be used as arguments.
14 Latin prayers. “Agnus Dei Catolis” for “Agnus Dei qui tollis” (John I. 29).
15 Woe unto them! Where there’s smoke there’s fire! Like seeks like; and if Ibarra is hanged, therefore you will be hanged.
16 I do not fear death in bed, but upon the mount of Bagumbayan.
17 The first part of a Spanish proverb: “Gifts break rocks, and enter without gimlets.”
18 What is written is evidence! What medicines do not cure, iron cures; what iron does not cure, fire cures.
19 In extreme cases, extreme measures.
20 Do you wish to keep it also, traitress?
21 Go, accursed, into the fire of the kalan.
