“The friars?”
“Quiroga the Chinaman?”
“Some student?”
“Makaraig?” [[344]]
Capitan Toringoy coughed and glanced at Isagani, while Chichoy shook his head and smiled.
“The jeweler Simoun.”
“Simoun!!”
The profound silence of amazement followed these words. Simoun, the evil genius of the Captain-General, the rich trader to whose house they had gone to buy unset gems, Simoun, who had received the Orenda girls with great courtesy and had paid them fine compliments! For the very reason that the story seemed absurd it was believed. “Credo quia absurdum,” said St. Augustine.
“But wasn’t Simoun at the fiesta last night?” asked Sensia.
“Yes,” said Momoy. “But now I remember! He left the house just as we were sitting down to the dinner. He went to get his wedding-gift.”