CHAPTER XLVIII
The Enigma
Volveran las oscuras golondrinas. [130]
BECQUER.
As Lucas had foretold, Ibarra arrived on the following day. His firstvisit was to the family of Capitan Tiago for the purpose of seeingMaria Clara and informing her that his Grace had reconciled him withreligion, and that he brought to the curate a letter of recommendationin the handwriting of the Archbishop himself. Aunt Isabel was nota little rejoiced at this, for she liked the young man and did notlook favorably on the marriage of her niece with Linares. CapitanTiago was not at home.
"Come in," said the aunt in her broken Spanish. "Maria, Don Crisostomois once more in the favor of God. The Archbishop has _discommunicated_him."
But the youth was unable to advance, the smile froze on his lips,words failed him. Standing on the balcony at the side of Maria Clarawas Linares, arranging bouquets of flowers and leaves. Roses andsampaguitas were scattered about on the floor. Reclining in a bigchair, pale, with a sad and pensive air, Maria Clara toyed with anivory fan which was not whiter than her shapely fingers.
At the appearance of Ibarra, Linares turned pale and Maria Clara'scheeks flushed crimson. She tried to rise, but strength failed her,so she dropped her eyes and let the fan fall. An embarrassed silenceprevailed for a few moments. Ibarra was then able to move forward andmurmur tremblingly, "I've just got back and have come immediately tosee you. I find you better than I had thought I should."
The girl seemed to have been stricken dumb; she neither said anythingnor raised her eyes.
Ibarra looked Linares over from head to foot with a stare which thebashful youth bore haughtily.
"Well, I see that my arrival was unexpected," said Ibarraslowly. "Maria, pardon me that I didn't have myself announced. Atsome other time I'll be able to make explanations to you about myconduct. We'll still see one another surely."
These last words were accompanied by a look at Linares. The girlraised toward him her lovely eyes, full of purity and sadness. Theywere so beseeching and eloquent that Ibarra stopped in confusion.
"May I come tomorrow?"
"You know that for my part you are always welcome," she answeredfaintly.
Ibarra withdrew in apparent calm, but with a tempest in his head andice in his heart. What he had just seen and felt was incomprehensibleto him: was it doubt, dislike, or faithlessness?
"Oh, only a woman after all!" he murmured.
Taking no note of where he was going, he reached the spot where theschoolhouse was under construction. The work was well advanced, NorJuan with his mile and plumb-bob coming and going among the numerouslaborers. Upon catching sight of Ibarra he ran to meet him.
"Don Crisostomo, at last you've come! We've all been waiting foryou. Look at the walls, they're already more than a meter high andwithin two days they'll be up to the height of a man. I've put inonly the strongest and most durable woods--molave, dungon, ipil,langil--and sent for the finest--tindalo, malatapay, pino, andnarra--for the finishings. Do you want to look at the foundations?"
The workmen saluted Ibarra respectfully, while Nor Juan made volubleexplanations. "Here is the piping that I have taken the libertyto add," he said. "These subterranean conduits lead to a sort ofcesspool, thirty yards away. It will help fertilize the garden. Therewas nothing of that in the plan. Does it displease you?"
"Quite the contrary, I approve what you've done and congratulateyou. You are a real architect. From whom did you learn the business?"
"From myself, sir," replied the old man modestly.
"Oh, before I forget about it--tell those who may have scruples,if perhaps there is any one who fears to speak to me, that I'm nolonger excommunicated. The Archbishop invited me to dinner."
"_Aba_, sir, we don't pay any attention to excommunications! All ofus are excommunicated. Padre Damaso himself is and yet he stays fat."
"How's that?"
"It's true, sir, for a year ago he caned the coadjutor, who isjust as much a sacred person as he is. Who pays any attention toexcommunications, sir?"
Among the laborers Ibarra caught sight of Elias, who, as he salutedhim along with the others, gave him to understand by a look that hehad something to say to him.
"Nor Juan," said Ibarra, "will you bring me your list of the laborers?"
Nor Juan disappeared, and Ibarra approached Elias, who was by himself,lifting a heavy stone into a cart.
"If you can grant me a few hours' conversation, sir, walk down tothe shore of the lake this evening and get into my banka." The youthnodded, and Elias moved away.
Nor Juan now brought the list, but Ibarra scanned it in vain; thename of Elias did not appear on it!