XXXI.
His Excellency.
“I want to talk with that young man,” said the general to one of his aids; “he rouses all my interest.”
“He has been sent for, my general; but there is here another young man of Manila who insists upon seeing you. We told him you have not the time; that you did not come to give audiences. He replied that Your Excellency has always the time to do justice.”
The general, perplexed, turned to the alcalde.
“If I am not mistaken,” said the alcalde, with an inclination of the head, “it is a student who this morning had trouble with Father Dámaso about the sermon.”
“Another still? Has this monk started out to put the province to revolt, or does he think he commands here? Admit the young man!” And the governor got up and walked nervously back and forth.
In the ante-chamber some Spanish officers and all the functionaries of the pueblo were talking in groups. All the monks, too, except Father Dámaso, had come to pay their respects to the governor.
“His Excellency begs your reverences to attend a moment,” said the aide-de-camp. “Enter, young man!”