, Pinzon, does my
nephew too belong to that sect of table-tippers?"

"I think it was he who indoctrinated our valiant Brigadier Batalla."

"Good Heavens!"

"Yes; and whenever he chooses," said Don Inocencio, unable to contain
his laughter, "he can speak to Socrates, St. Paul, Cervantes, or
Descartes, as I speak to Librada to ask her for a match. Poor Senor de
Rey! I was not mistaken in saying that there was something wrong in his
head."

"Outside that," continued Pinzon, "our brigadier is a good soldier. If
he errs at all, it is on the side of severity. He takes the orders
of the Government so literally that, if he were to meet with much
opposition here, he would be capable of not leaving one stone upon
another in Orbajosa. Yes, I advise you all to be on your guard."

"But is that monster going to cut all our heads off, then? Ah, Senor Don
Inocencio! these visits of the army remind me of what I have read in
the lives of the martyrs about the visits of the Roman proconsuls to a
Christian town."

"The comparison is not wanting in exactness," said the Penitentiary,
looking at the soldier over his spectacles.

"It is not very agreeable, but if it is the truth, why should it not be
said?" observed Pinzon benevolently. "Now you all are at our mercy."

"The authorities of the place," objected Jacinto, "still exercise their
functions as usual."

"I think you are mistaken," responded the soldier, whose countenance
Dona 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"The governor of the province has been replaced by a delegate from the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.

Dona 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 Dona
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!"