it's in the water. All of us hearing her, even the dogs and cats,
have won at least twenty years of indulgence."

Simoun arranged his two chests on the table, one being somewhat larger
than the other. "You don't want plated jewelry or imitation gems. This
lady," turning to Sinang, "wants real diamonds."

"That's it, yes, sir, diamonds, old diamonds, antique stones, you
know," she responded. "Papa will pay for them, because he likes antique
things, antique stones." Sinang was accustomed to joke about the great
deal of Latin her father understood and the little her husband knew.

"It just happens that I have some antique jewels," replied Simoun,
taking the canvas cover from the smaller chest, a polished steel
case with bronze trimmings and stout locks. "I have necklaces of
Cleopatra's, real and genuine, discovered in the Pyramids; rings of
Roman senators and knights, found in the ruins of Carthage."

"Probably those that Hannibal sent back after the battle of
Cannae!" exclaimed Capitan Basilio seriously, while he trembled with
pleasure. The good man, thought he had read much about the ancients,
had never, by reason of the lack of museums in Filipinas, seen any
of the objects of those times.

"I have brought besides costly earrings of Roman ladies, discovered
in the villa of Annius Mucius Papilinus in Pompeii."

Capitan Easilio nodded to show that he understood and was eager to
see such precious relics. The women remarked that they also wanted
things from Rome, such as rosaries blessed by the Pope, holy relics