“Private soldiers are not often taken into councils,” suggested Agonoy.
“Oh, yes, they are when there are only three present,” suggested Saguanaldo, with grim humor. But Agonoy did not join in the laugh that followed.
By Saguanaldo’s side sat Bishop Aglipay, Obispo Maximo, the leader of the revolt against the friars. Only these four were left, though others were ready to take up arms when Saguanaldo suggested. It was a pitiful remnant of the gay throng that had such a short time ago celebrated Philippine independence, hailing Saguanaldo as president. Saguanaldo began:
“We shall need to confer as to the best mode of procedure, because we are in desperate situation. We are in a much worse shape than before the American army came. Then we were in possession of more than half the churches in the Philippines, and besides that, held Manila. But now I have been tricked away from the Philippine capital, and the American troops are protecting the churches for the friars.”
“How did they come to get the churches which you had?” Mrs. Rizal was addressing Aglipay. She knew, but wanted his version of it.
“We were fearing nothing,” the leader of the schism explained, “when in one night, just before the American troops arrived on the scene, Spanish soldiers seized on the churches while we slept. The next day the American troops came, and as, it appears, they had been ordered to protect in possession of their properties whoever they might find in possession of them, they at once became allies of the friars.”
“And here I, who was with them,” exclaimed Saguanaldo indignantly, “I, who had given them peaceable possession of Manila, was ordered to protect the friars in possession that they gained by trickery.”
“What did you do?” asked Mrs. Rizal.
“Do? I passed the word to as many of my followers as possible, and fled. Not one of them came, though.”
“That seems to have been the best thing you could have done—for the friars,” returned Mrs. Rizal. “In doing that you became rebellious against the United States, and now, I understand, have the American army on your trail.”