“The curate wishes it,” repeated the gobernadorcillo, “and I’ve promised that his wishes shall be carried out.”
“Then why did you call us together?” asked one, impatient.
“Why didn’t you say so in the beginning?” demanded another.
“I wished to, señores, but, Captain Basilio, I did not have a chance. We must obey the curate!”
“We must obey!” repeated some of the Conservatives.
Don Filipo approached the gobernadorcillo and said bitterly:
“I sacrificed my pride in a good cause; you sacrifice your manliness in a bad one; you spoil every good thing that might be done!”
Ibarra said to the schoolmaster:
“Have you any commission for the capital? I leave immediately.”
On the way home the old philosopher said to Don Filipo, who was cursing his fate: