“I think you are mistaken,” responded the soldier, whose countenance Doña Perfecta and the Penitentiary were studying with profound interest. “The alcalde of Orbajosa was removed from office an hour ago.”
“By the governor of the province?”
“The governor of the province has been replaced by a delegate from the Government, who was to arrive this morning. The municipal councils will all be removed from office to-day. The minister has so ordered because he suspected, I don’t know on what grounds, that they were not supporting the central authority.”
“This is a pretty state of things!” murmured the canon, frowning and pushing out his lower lip.
Doña Perfecta looked thoughtful.
“Some of the judges of the primary court, among them the judge of Orbajosa, have been deprived of office.”
“The judge! Periquito—Periquito is no longer judge!” exclaimed Doña Perfecta, in a voice and with the manner of a person who has just been stung by a snake.
“The person who was judge in Orbajosa is judge no longer,” said Pinzon. “To-morrow the new judge will arrive.”
“A stranger!”
“A stranger.”