"Now the floor belongs to any one who--hem!" said the gobernadorcillo, without being able to finish his sentence.
To judge by the general silence, no one wished to be one of the patres conscripti. Don Filipo profited thereby and rose.
The Conservatives looked at one another with significant nods and gestures.
"Señores, I will present my project for the fête," he began.
"We cannot accept it!" said an uncompromising Conservative.
"We vote against it!" cried another adversary.
"We have a budget of 3,500 pesos. With this sum we can assure a fête that will surpass any we have yet seen in our own province or in others."
There were cries of "Impossible!" Such a pueblo spent 4,000 pesos; another, 5,000!
"Listen, señores, and you will be convinced," continued Don Filipo, unshaken. "I propose that in the middle of the plaza we erect a grand theatre, costing 150 pesos."
"Observe, gentlemen, 200 pesos for the theatre. I propose that arrangements be made with the Comedy Company of Tondo for seven representations, seven consecutive evenings, at 200 pesos an evening. Seven representations, at 200 pesos each, makes 1,400 pesos. Observe, señor director, 1,400 pesos."
Old and young looked at one another in surprise. Only those in the secret remained unmoved.
"I further propose magnificent fireworks; not those little rockets and crackers that amuse nobody but children and old maids, but great bombs, colossal rockets. I propose, then, 200 bombs at two pesos each, and 200 rockets at the same price. Observe, señores, 1,000 pesos for bombs and----"
The Conservatives could not contain themselves. They got up and conferred with one another.
"And further, to show our neighbors that we are not people who must count their expenditures, I propose, first, four great preachers for the two feast days; second, that each day we throw into the lake 200 roasted fowls, 100 stuffed capons, and 50 sucking pigs, as did Sylla, contemporary of Cicero, to whom Captain Basilio alluded."
"That's it! Like Sylla!" repeated Captain Basilio, flattered.
"As many rich people will come to the fêtes, each bringing thousands of pesos and his best cocks, I propose fifteen days of the gallera, the liberty of open gaming houses----"