[1] A popular Spanish song handed down from the time of Riego’s uprising in Spain.
[2] Volunteer police.
Chapter XXIII.
Two Visitors.
Ibarra found his mind in such a state that it was impossible for him to sleep. So, in order to divert himself and to drive away the gloomy idea which distracted his mind, he began work in his solitary laboratory. Morning came upon him, still at work making mixtures and compounds to the action of which he submitted pieces of cane and other substances, and afterward enclosed them in numbered and sealed flasks.
A servant entered, announcing the arrival of a peasant.
“Let him enter!” said he, without even turning to look.
Elias entered and remained standing in silence.
“Ah! is it you?” Ibarra exclaimed in Tagalog on recognizing him. “Excuse me if I have kept you waiting. I was not aware of your presence. I was making an important experiment.”