Free The Good Conscience by Carlos Fuentes Page B

approaching presidential elections. Doña Presentatión Obregón, public relations officer for the Trinity, who promotes Holy Week retreats, apostolic congregations, novenas for every defunct celebrity, exercises of the Corpus, prayers in private homes, the procession on the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the blessing of animals. Don Chema Naranjo, Balcárcel’s competitor in buying lots and making loans for short terms at high interest. Don Norberto Galindo, old Villista, who switched to Ogregón following the battle of Celaya, and through cattletheft has become a substantial rancher. Señorita Pascualina Barona, efficient moral edile, watchful in movies, at dances, even on the streets in the small hours of the morning, to catch serenaders, hands-holding, those who come home late: gold pince-nez and a small black bonnet. The ex-legislator Maximino Mateos, who bosses three small towns and operates a complex tax system the returns from which he invests through Balcárcel. J. Guadalupe Montañez, a cousin, one of the last examples of the old regime.
    They all visit the stone mansion. They all speak. Jaime writes beautiful compositions. Sometimes he must read them aloud three times. What original ideas the boy has! Clearly there is a certain want of finish in style. I will lend him—with your permission—a volume of Don Amado Nervo, whose literary excellence is beyond dispute.
    Encourage him toward a religious vocation, Doña Asunción. I’m told that he recites whole chapters of Scripture from memory. Good. But let him be sure, if he decides upon priesthood, to stand solid as an oak, capable of resisting all temptation. So many seminarians abandon their habits after only one year! The Church has need of new buds. St. Peter’s tree has been shattered by too many impious bolts of lightning. There are so many towns that have no priest. It didn’t used to be so, and Holy Mary’s favorite people deserve something better.
    â€”Yes, this will be the first really civil government since Madero. An administration of university graduates and young men. Say the word, and with luck your nephew may rise to be deputy. The Party is going to build in accordance with the new historical circumstances of the Revolution, and now we civilians will feed with a large spoon. We need youth, sir, and also businessmen like yourself, to fight against the Padillista reaction. I assure you that we are finished with the red demagogues of my General Cárdenas … though he himself is of course a disciplined member of the Party who knows how to respect the nation’s highest interests. I urge you to help in forming the Youth Front. Bring me your nephew, he too must become a cub of the Revolution.
    â€”We’ll meet at my home the day of the Holy Cross. I’ve already had the prayers printed. Bring the boy, too, of course. From the house we will march in procession to the church of San Diego, and afterward we’ll have refreshments in the sacristy. Last year it was difficult. Some ex-governor or other wanted to raise a riot with the Constitution. So many communist governors, my dear, but they all leave office millionaires. May God protect us!
    â€”Maximino Mateos’ son is an ass but for all that his paper is sound. I’ve raised interest on him to forty percent a week, and he still borrows. I tell you because he may come to you: forty percent, no less. How is your nephew coming along? Teach him to be saving and prudent, Don Jorge. What if he should turn out a prodigal like the son of Maximino Mateos?
    â€”When your nephew finishes his secondary studies, let that be enough of books. Send him to my ranch, and there he will grow into a strong and honorable man.
    â€”Well, I followed her all afternoon and I was shocked to see her go into the movies alone. Just think, Luz María’s daughter, our own Luz María, who was with us in the Daughters of the Good Shepherd! But you