Part 37 (1/2)
Another fit of coughing on the part of the poor silversmith prevented further conversation, so the workmen and apprentices retired to their homes, carrying with them hammers and saws, and other implements, more or less cutting, more or less bruising, disposed to sell their lives dearly. Placido and the pyrotechnician went out again.
”Prudence, prudence!” cautioned the silversmith in a tearful voice.
”You'll take care of my widow and orphans!” begged the credulous simpleton in a still more tearful voice, for he already saw himself riddled with bullets and buried.
That night the guards at the city gates were replaced with Peninsular artillerymen, and on the following morning as the sun rose, Ben-Zayb, who had ventured to take a morning stroll to examine the condition of the fortifications, found on the glacis near the Luneta the corpse of a native girl, half-naked and abandoned. Ben-Zayb was horrified, but after touching it with his cane and gazing toward the gates proceeded on his way, musing over a sentimental tale he might base upon the incident.
However, no allusion to it appeared in the newspapers on the following days, engrossed as they were with the falls and slippings caused by banana-peels. In the dearth of news Ben-Zayb had to comment at length on a cyclone that had destroyed in America whole towns, causing the death of more than two thousand persons. Among other beautiful things he said:
”_The sentiment of charity_, MORE PREVALENT IN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES THAN IN OTHERS, and the thought of Him who, influenced by that same feeling, sacrificed himself for _humanity, moves (sic)_ us to compa.s.sion over the misfortunes of our kind and to render thanks that _in this country_, so scourged by cyclones, there are not enacted scenes so desolating as that which the inhabitants of the United States mus have witnessed!”
_Horatius_ did not miss the opportunity, and, also without mentioning the dead, or the murdered native girl, or the a.s.saults, answered him in his _Pirotecnia_:
”After such great charity and such great humanity, Fray Ibanez--I mean, Ben-Zayb--brings himself to pray for the Philippines.
But he is understood.
Because he is not Catholic, and the sentiment of charity is most prevalent,” etc. [62]
CHAPTER XXIX
EXIT CAPITAN TIAGO
Talis vita, finis ita
Capitan Tiago had a good end--that is, a quite exceptional funeral. True it is that the curate of the parish had ventured the observation to Padre Irene that Capitan Tiago had died without confession, but the good priest, smiling sardonically, had rubbed the tip of his nose and answered:
”Why say that to me? If we had to deny the obsequies to all who die without confession, we should forget the _De profundis_! These restrictions, as you well know, are enforced when the impenitent is also insolvent. But Capitan Tiago--out on you! You've buried infidel Chinamen, and with a requiem ma.s.s!”
Capitan Tiago had named Padre Irene as his executor and willed his property in part to St. Clara, part to the Pope, to the Archbishop, the religious corporations, leaving twenty pesos for the matriculation of poor students. This last clause had been dictated at the suggestion of Padre Irene, in his capacity as protector of studious youths. Capitan Tiago had annulled a legacy of twenty-five pesos that he had left to Basilio, in view of the ungrateful conduct of the boy during the last few days, but Padre Irene had restored it and announced that he would take it upon his own purse and conscience.
In the dead man's house, where were a.s.sembled on the following day many old friends and acquaintances, considerable comment was indulged in over a miracle. It was reported that, at the very moment when he was dying, the soul of Capitan Tiago had appeared to the nuns surrounded by a brilliant light. G.o.d had saved him, thanks to the pious legacies, and to the numerous ma.s.ses he had paid for. The story was commented upon, it was recounted vividly, it took on particulars, and was doubted by no one. The appearance of Capitan Tiago was minutely described--of course the frock coat, the cheek bulged out by the quid of buyo, without omitting the game-c.o.c.k and the opium-pipe. The senior sacristan, who was present, gravely affirmed these facts with his head and reflected that, after death, he would appear with his cup of white _taju_, for without that refres.h.i.+ng breakfast he could not comprehend happiness either on earth or in heaven.
On this subject, because of their inability to discuss the events of the preceding day and because there were gamblers present, many strange speculations were developed. They made conjectures as to whether Capitan Tiago would invite St. Peter to a _soltada_, whether they would place bets, whether the game-c.o.c.ks were immortal, whether invulnerable, and in this case who would be the referee, who would win, and so on: discussions quite to the taste of those who found sciences, theories, and systems, based on a text which they esteem infallible, revealed or dogmatic. Moreover, there were cited pa.s.sages from novenas, books of miracles, sayings of the curates, descriptions of heaven, and other embroidery. Don Primitivo, the philosopher, was in his glory quoting opinions of the theologians.
”Because no one can lose,” he stated with great authority. ”To lose would cause hard feelings and in heaven there can't be any hard feelings.”
”But some one has to win,” rejoined the gambler Aristorenas. ”The fun lies in winning!”
”Well, both win, that's easy!”
This idea of both winning could not be admitted by Aristorenas, for he had pa.s.sed his life in the c.o.c.kpit and had always seen one c.o.c.k lose and the other win--at best, there was a tie. Vainly Don Primitivo argued in Latin. Aristorenas shook his head, and that too when Don Primitivo's Latin was easy to understand, for he talked of _an gallus talisainus, acuto tari armatus, an gallus beati Petri bulikus sasabungus sit_, [63] and so on, until at length he decided to resort to the argument which many use to convince and silence their opponents.