Nothing of idealism, nothing of fallacious theories! Fire and steel to the cancer, chastisement to vice, and afterwards destroy the instrument, if it be bad! No, I have planned well, but now I feel feverish, my reason wavers, it is natural--If I have done ill, it has been that I may do good, and the end justifies the means.

What I will do is not to expose myself--" With his thoughts thus confused he lay down, and tried to fall asleep.
On the following morning Placido listened submissively, with a smile on his lips, to his mother's preachment.

When she spoke of her plan of interesting the Augustinian procurator he did not protest or object, but on the contrary offered himself to carry it out, in order to save trouble for his mother, whom he begged to return at once to the province, that very day, if possible.

Cabesang Andang asked him the reason for such haste.
"Because--because if the procurator learns that you are here he won't do anything until you send him a present and order some masses.".