"Like the government!" again interrupted Simoun.

"Several nights ago he awoke in the dark and thought that he had
gone blind. He raised a disturbance, lamenting and scolding me,
saying that I had put his eyes out. When I entered his room with a
light he mistook me for Padre Irene and called me his saviour."

"Like the government, exactly!"

"Last night," continued Basilio, paying no attention, "he got up
begging for his favorite game-cock, the one that died three years
ago, and I had to give him a chicken. Then he heaped blessings upon
me and promised me many thousands--"

At that instant a clock struck half-past ten. Simoun shuddered and
stopped the youth with a gesture.

"Basilio," he said in a low, tense voice, "listen to me carefully,
for the moments are precious. I see that you haven't opened the
pamphlets that I sent you. You're not interested in your country."

The youth started to protest.

"It's useless," went on Simoun dryly. "Within an hour the revolution
is going to break out at a signal from me, and tomorrow there'll
be no studies, there'll be no University, there'll be nothing but
fighting and butchery. I have everything ready and my success is
assured. When we triumph, all those who could have helped us and did
not do so will be treated as enemies. Basilio, I've come to offer
you death or a future!"