"Very well then; if you will give me your word as a gentleman not to make any use of it, I will tell you."
"Take warning that it is putting a heavy obligation on yourself."
"I promise you. Speak!"
"We understand that you will not give the slightest hint that you know what I am going to reveal to you.... Having noticed for some time, and especially during the last few days, that the minister was weakening on your election, and knowing the friendship that unites you to the President and the conferences which you have had with him, I was anxious to get his advice, so as to know once and for all how I should look upon this matter. Yesterday I telegraphed to his secretary. Here is the answer that I received...."
The governor produced a telegram in cipher, which written out, was as follows:—
Official Candidate—Don Miguel Rivera.
Deputy—Don Manuel Corrales.
Miguel held it for some time in his hands; a melancholy, ironical smile hovered over his lips.
"Very well," said he, flinging it on the table. "One stone more which the world has cast at me."