The old man hesitated, stared fixedly at Isagani, and then with a sudden resolution made a sign with his hand as though he would dispel some idea.

“I can guess what you mean,” said Isagani, smiling sadly.  “You mean that a colonial government, for the very reason that it is imperfectly constituted and that it is based on premises—­”

“No, no, not that, no!” quickly interrupted the old lawyer, as he sought for something among his papers.  “No, I meant—­but where are my spectacles?”

“There they are,” replied Isagani.

The old man put them on and pretended to look over some papers, but seeing that the youth was waiting, he mumbled, “I wanted to tell you something, I wanted to say—­but it has slipped from my mind.  You interrupted me in your eagerness—­but it was an insignificant matter.  If you only knew what a whirl my head is in, I have so much to do!”

Isagani understood that he was being dismissed.  “So,” he said, rising, “we—­”

“Ah, you will do well to leave the matter in the hands of the government, which will settle it as it sees fit.  You say that the Vice-Rector is opposed to the teaching of Castilian.  Perhaps he may be, not as to the fact but as to the form.  It is said that the Rector who is on his way will bring a project for reform in education.  Wait a while, give time a chance, apply yourself to your studies as the examinations are near, and—­carambas!—­you who already speak Castilian and express yourself easily, what are you bothering yourself about?  What interest have you in seeing it specially taught?  Surely Padre Florentino thinks as I do!  Give him my regards.”

“My uncle,” replied Isagani, “has always admonished me to think of others as much as of myself.  I didn’t come for myself, I came in the name of those who are in worse condition.”

“What the devil!  Let them do as you have done, let them singe their eyebrows studying and come to be bald like myself, stuffing whole paragraphs into their memories!  I believe that if you talk Spanish it is because you have studied it—­you’re not of Manila or of Spanish parents!  Then let them learn it as you have, and do as I have done:  I’ve been a servant to all the friars, I’ve prepared their chocolate, and while with my right hand I stirred it, with the left I held a grammar, I learned, and, thank God! have never needed other teachers or academies or permits from the government.  Believe me, he who wishes to learn, learns and becomes wise!”

“But how many among those who wish to learn come to be what you are?  One in ten thousand, and more!”

“Pish!  Why any more?” retorted the old man, shrugging his shoulders.  “There are too many lawyers now, many of them become mere clerks.  Doctors?  They insult and abuse one another, and even kill each other in competition for a patient.  Laborers, sir, laborers, are what we need, for agriculture!”