Part 11 (1/2)
”I thought that you were interested in the affair,” continued Father Salvi, with a little jeering in his manner.
The alferez bit his lips and mumbled out a silly excuse.
The meal ended and, while tea and coffee were being served, the young and old distributed themselves about in various groups. Some picked up playing cards and others dice, but the young women, anxious to know the future, preferred to try their luck with the wheel of fortune.
”Come, Senor Ibarra,” shouted Captain Basilio, who was a little bit jolly. ”We have a law-suit that has been pending for fifteen years, and there isn't a judge in the Supreme Court in Manila who can decide it. Let us see if we can settle it on the chess board. What do you say?”
The game of chess began with much solemnity.
”If the game is a draw,” said Ibarra, ”it is understood that the suit is off.”
About the middle of the game, Ibarra received a telegram which made his eyes glisten and his face grow pale. He put it in his pocket-book, not, however, without directing a glance at the group of young women who continued with much laughter to play the wheel of fortune.
”Check to the king!” said the young man.
Captain Basilio had no other resort than to hide him behind the queen.
”Check to the queen!” said Ibarra, threatening it with his rook, which was defended by a p.a.w.n.
Not being able to cover the queen, nor to retire it on account of the fact that the king was behind it, Captain Basilio asked permission to study the situation a little.
”Certainly, with much pleasure,” replied Ibarra. ”I will take advantage of the opportunity, for I have something to say to some of the members of that group over there.”
And rising to his feet, he gave his opponent half an hour to study it out.
Iday held in her hands the strip of cardboard on which was written forty-eight questions, while Albino held the book which contained the answers.
”That's a lie! It's not so! It lies!” cried Sinang, half in tears.
”What is the matter with you?” asked Maria Clara.
”Just imagine it: I asked the question 'When will I have some sense?' I threw the dice and he, this all-night-watching priest (Albino, the ex-seminary student) reads from the book: 'When the frogs grow hairs.' What do you think of that?”
And Sinang made a face at the former religious student, who was still laughing heartily.
”Who told you to ask such a question?” said her cousin Victoria. ”Any one who asks such a question deserves just such an answer.”
”You ask a question!” said they all to Ibarra. ”We have agreed that the one who receives the best answer shall receive a gift from the others. We have all asked our questions already.”
”And who has received the best answer?”
”Maria Clara, Maria Clara!” replied Sinang. ”We made her ask the question whether you loved her or not: 'Is your lover faithful and constant,' and the book replied----”
But Maria Clara colored up, and, putting her hands over Sinang's mouth, did not allow her to finish what she had to say.
”Then, let me try it,” said Crisostomo, smiling.
He asked the question: ”Will I succeed in my present undertaking?”