To draw a plan one needs only to have two fingers' breadth of forehead." "Nevertheless," answered the alcalde, seeing that Ibarra was silent, "when we consider certain buildings, as, for example, this schoolhouse, we need an expert." "Get out with your experts!" exclaimed the priest with a sneer.

"Only a fool needs experts! One must be more of a brute than the Indians, who build their own houses, not to know how to construct four walls and put a roof on top of them.

That's all a schoolhouse is!" The guests gazed at Ibarra, who had turned pale, but he continued as if in conversation with Maria Clara.
"But your Reverence should consider--" "See now," went on the Franciscan, not allowing the alcalde to continue, "look how one of our lay brothers, the most stupid that we have, has constructed a hospital, good, pretty, and cheap.

He made them work hard and paid only eight cuartos a day even to those who had to come from other towns.

He knew how to handle them, not like a lot of cranks and little mestizos who are spoiling them by paying three or four reals." "Does your Reverence say that he paid only eight cuartos?
Impossible!" The alcalde was trying to change the course of the conversation.
"Yes, sir, and those who pride themselves on being good Spaniards ought to imitate him.