“That’s a secret too; but I can tell you by yourself if these gentlemen will permit.”
“Certainly, certainly?” said Father Salvi. Sinang drew Crisóstomo to the other end of the great room.
“Tell me, little friend,” said he, “is Maria angry with me?”
“I don’t know. She says you had best forget her, and then she cries. This morning when we were wondering where you were I said to tease her: ‘Perhaps he has gone a-courting.’ But she was quite grave, and said: ‘It is God’s will!’”
“Tell Maria I must see her alone,” said Ibarra, troubled.
“It will be difficult, but I’ll try to manage it.”
“And when shall I know?”
“To-morrow. But you are going without telling me the secret!”
“So I am. Well, I went to the pueblo of Los Baños to see about some cocoanut trees!”
“What a secret!” cried Sinang aloud in a tone of a usurer despoiled.