Noli me tángere. English

by José Rizal

  CHAPTER XLIII

  Plans

  Without heeding any of the bystanders, Padre Damaso went directlyto the bed of the sick girl and taking her hand said to her withineffable tenderness, while tears sprang into his eyes, "Maria,my daughter, you mustn't die!"

  The sick girl opened her eyes and stared at him with a strangeexpression. No one who knew the Franciscan had suspected in him suchtender feelings, no one had believed that under his rude and roughexterior there might beat a heart. Unable to go on, he withdrew fromthe girl's side, weeping like a child, and went outside under thefavorite vines of Maria Clara's balcony to give free rein to his grief.

  "How he loves his goddaughter!" thought all present, while Fray Salvigazed at him motionlessly and in silence, lightly gnawing his lipsthe while.

  When he had become somewhat calm again Dona Victorina introducedLinares, who approached him respectfully. Fray Damaso silently lookedhim over from head to foot, took the letter offered and read it,but apparently without understanding, for he asked, "And who are you?"

  "Alfonso Linares, the godson of your brother-in-law," stammered theyoung man.

  Padre Damaso threw back his body and looked the youth over againcarefully. Then his features lighted up and he arose. "So you are thegodson of Carlicos!" he exclaimed. "Come and let me embrace you! Igot your letter several days ago. So it's you! I didn't recognizeyou,--which is easily explained, for you weren't born when I left thecountry,--I didn't recognize you!" Padre Damaso squeezed his robustarms about the young man, who became very red, whether from modestyor lack of breath is not known.

  After the first moments of effusion had passed and inquiries aboutCarlicos and his wife had been made and answered, Padre Damaso asked,"Come now, what does Carlicos want me to do for you?"

  "I believe he says something about that in the letter," Linaresagain stammered.

  "In the letter? Let's see! That's right! He wants me to get you a joband a wife. Ahem! A job, a job that's easy! Can you read and write?"

  "I received my degree of law from the University."

  "_Carambas!_ So you're a pettifogger! You don't show it; you lookmore like a shy maiden. So much the better! But to get you a wife--"

  "Padre, I'm not in such a great hurry," interrupted Linares inconfusion.

  But Padre Damaso was already pacing from one end of the hallway tothe other, muttering, "A wife, a wife!" His countenance was no longersad or merry but now wore an expression of great seriousness, whilehe seemed to be thinking deeply. Padre Salvi gazed on the scene froma distance.

  "I didn't think that the matter would trouble me so much," murmuredPadre Damaso in a tearful voice. "But of two evils, the lesser!" Thenraising his voice he approached Linares and said to him, "Come, boy,let's talk to Santiago."

  Linares turned pale and allowed himself to be dragged along by thepriest, who moved thoughtfully. Then it was Padre Salvi's turn topace back and forth, pensive as ever.

  A voice wishing him good morning drew him from his monotonous walk. Heraised his head and saw Lucas, who saluted him humbly.

  "What do you want?" questioned the curate's eyes.

  "Padre, I'm the brother of the man who was killed on the day of thefiesta," began Lucas in tearful accents.

  The curate recoiled and murmured in a scarcely audible voice, "Well?"

  Lucas made an effort to weep and wiped his eyes with ahandkerchief. "Padre," he went on tearfully, "I've been to DonCrisostomo to ask for an indemnity. First he received me with kicks,saying that he wouldn't pay anything since he himself had run the riskof getting killed through the fault of my dear, unfortunate brother. Iwent to talk to him yesterday, but he had gone to Manila. He leftme five hundred pesos for charity's sake and charged me not to comeback again. Ah, Padre, five hundred pesos for my poor brother--fivehundred pesos! Ah, Padre--"

  At first the curate had listened with surprise and attention whilehis lips curled slightly with a smile of such disdain and sarcasmat the sight of this farce that, had Lucas noticed it, he would haverun away at top speed. "Now what do you want?" he asked, turning away.

  "Ah, Padre, tell me for the love of God what I ought to do. The padrehas always given good advice."

  "Who told you so? You don't belong in these parts."

  "The padre is known all over the province."

  With irritated looks Padre Salvi approached him and pointing to thestreet said to the now startled Lucas, "Go home and be thankful thatDon Crisostomo didn't have you sent to jail! Get out of here!"

  Lucas forgot the part he was playing and murmured, "But I thought--"

  "Get out of here!" cried Padre Salvi nervously.

  "I would like to see Padre Damaso."

  "Padre Damaso is busy. Get out of here!" again ordered the curateimperiously.

  Lucas went down the stairway muttering, "He's another of them--as hedoesn't pay well--the one who pays best!"

  At the sound of the curate's voice all had hurried to the spot,including Padre Damaso, Capitan Tiago, and Linares.

  "An insolent vagabond who came to beg and who doesn't want to work,"explained Padre Salvi, picking up his hat and cane to return tothe convento.