“Welcome, young man!  But sit down, and excuse me, for I didn’t know that it was you.  How is your uncle?”

Isagani took courage, believing that his case would get on well.  He related briefly what had been done, the while studying the effect of his words.  Senor Pasta listened impassively at first and, although he was informed of the efforts of the students, pretended ignorance, as if to show that he had nothing to do with such childish matters, but when he began to suspect what was wanted of him and heard mention of the Vice-Rector, friars, the Captain-General, a project, and so on, his face slowly darkened and he finally exclaimed, “This is the land of projects!  But go on, go on!”

Isagani was not yet discouraged.  He spoke of the manner in which a decision was to be reached and concluded with an expression of the confidence which the young men entertained that he, Senor Pasta, would intercede in their behalf in case Don Custodio should consult him, as was to be expected.  He did not dare to say would advise, deterred by the wry face the lawyer put on.

But Senor Pasta had already formed his resolution, and it was not to mix at all in the affair, either as consulter or consulted.  He was familiar with what had occurred at Los Banos, he knew that there existed two factions, and that Padre Irene was not the only champion on the side of the students, nor had he been the one who proposed submitting the petition to the Commission of Primary Instruction, but quite the contrary.  Padre Irene, Padre Fernandez, the Countess, a merchant who expected to sell the materials for the new academy, and the high official who had been citing royal decree after royal decree, were about to triumph, when Padre Sibyla, wishing to gain time, had thought of the Commission.  All these facts the great lawyer had present in his mind, so that when Isagani had finished speaking, he determined to confuse him with evasions, tangle the matter up, and lead the conversation to other subjects.

“Yes,” he said, pursing his lips and scratching his head, “there is no one who surpasses me in love for the country and in aspirations toward progress, but—­I can’t compromise myself, I don’t know whether you clearly understand my position, a position that is very delicate, I have so many interests, I have to labor within the limits of strict prudence, it’s a risk—­”

The lawyer sought to bewilder the youth with an exuberance of words, so he went on speaking of laws and decrees, and talked so much that instead of confusing the youth, he came very near to entangling himself in a labyrinth of citations.

“In no way do we wish to compromise you,” replied Isagani with great calmness.  “God deliver us from injuring in the least the persons whose lives are so useful to the rest of the Filipinos!  But, as little versed as I may be in the laws, royal decrees, writs, and resolutions that obtain in this country, I can’t believe that there can be any harm in furthering the high purposes of the government, in trying to secure a proper interpretation of these purposes.  We are seeking the same end and differ only about the means.”