The second, also quite voluminous, was entitled:
PROJECTS UNDER CONSIDERATION. “No, not
those either.”
Then came the PROJECTS NEARING COMPLETION, PROJECTS
PRESENTED, PROJECTS REJECTED, PROJECTS APPROVED, PROJECTS
POSTPONED. These last envelopes held little, but the
least of all was that of the PROJECTS EXECUTED.
Don Custodio wrinkled up his nose—what
did it contain? He had completely forgotten what
was in it. A sheet of yellowish paper showed
from under the flap, as though the envelope were sticking
out its tongue. This he drew out and unfolded:
it was the famous project for the School of Arts and
Trades!
“What the devil!” he exclaimed. “If
the Augustinian padres took charge of it—”
Suddenly he slapped his forehead and arched his eyebrows,
while a look of triumph overspread his face.
“I have reached a decision!” he cried
with an oath that was not exactly eureka.
“My decision is made!”
Repeating his peculiar eureka five or six times,
which struck the air like so many gleeful lashes,
he sat down at his desk, radiant with joy, and began
to write furiously.
MANILA TYPES
That night there was a grand function at the Teatro
de Variedades. Mr. Jouay’s French operetta
company was giving its initial performance, Les
Cloches de Corneville. To the eyes of the
public was to be exhibited his select troupe, whose
fame the newspapers had for days been proclaiming.
It was reported that among the actresses was a very
beautiful voice, with a figure even more beautiful,
and if credit could be given to rumor, her amiability
surpassed even her voice and figure.
At half-past seven in the evening there were no more
tickets to be had, not even though they had been for
Padre Salvi himself in his direct need, and the persons
waiting to enter the general admission already formed
a long queue. In the ticket-office there were
scuffles and fights, talk of filibusterism and races,
but this did not produce any tickets, so that by a
quarter before eight fabulous prices were being offered
for them. The appearance of the building, profusely
illuminated, with flowers and plants in all the doors
and windows, enchanted the new arrivals to such an
extent that they burst out into exclamations and applause.
A large crowd surged about the entrance, gazing enviously
at those going in, those who came early from fear
of missing their seats. Laughter, whispering,
expectation greeted the later arrivals, who disconsolately
joined the curious crowd, and now that they could
not get in contented themselves with watching those
who did.
