“I do not know, Señor. This morning two arrived, one of them the lásak (black sprinkled with white) which whipped the Consul’s talisain (red, sprinkled with black).”
“Do you think that my bulik (black, red and white), can beat him?”
“Yes, I surely do. I’ll stake my house and shirt on him!”
At that moment Captain Tiago arrived. He was dressed, like the big gamblers, in a camisa of Canton linen, woolen pantaloons, and a panama-straw hat. Behind him came two servants, carrying the lásak and a white cock of colossal proportions.
“Sinang tells me that Maria Clara is improving steadily,” said Captain Basilio.
“She no longer has any fever, but she is still weak.”
“Did you lose last night?”
“A little. I heard that you won.... I am going to see if I can win back my money.”
“Do you want to fight your lásak?” asked Captain Basilio, looking at the rooster.
“That depends on whether there is any money up.”