Tales steals a revolver and joins the tulisanes. That night the friars’ agent and the new tenant and the new tenant’s wife are murdered.[2] [[221]]
The substance of this story, as you perceive, is taken from the experiences of the tenants of Calamba, among them Rizal’s own folk.
There is terrible irony in a description of how the governor-general governs; how he transacts business and promotes the welfare of the Islands. He has been on a hunting expedition in which he has shot nothing and returns ill tempered to Los Baños, where he has his bath, drinks his cocoanut milk, and sits down to a game of cards with three friars. From this reasonable occupation his chief secretary tries to divert his attention to matters of public business. This annoys the governor-general.
“The petition about sporting arms,” suggests the secretary.
“Forbidden!” says the governor-general and goes on playing. The secretary tries to intimate that this is not wise. He only arouses the wrath of the executive.
The schoolmaster at Tiani has petitioned for a better location for his school. The old store-room he is using has no roof: he has bought with his own funds books and pictures, and he wishes them not to be ruined.
“I’ve heard several complaints against this schoolmaster,” says his Excellency. “I think the best thing would be to suspend him.”
“Suspended!”[3] says the secretary.
“In the future,” says the governor-general, “all that complain will be suspended.” [[222]]
The well known fact is developed that there are not nearly enough school-houses. Somebody suggests that the cockpits might be used for schools when not needed for the more exalted purpose to which they are dedicated. Horror meets the proposal to interfere, for the sake of mere education, with reasonable sport and with the Government’s revenue.