essary for carrying the elections....'

"If the minister has done this on his own responsibility, without the
President's support, he has not acted well. Do you suppose that the
President has been informed of what has happened?" asked Miguel.

"My dear fellow, I don't know."

"You see I have his formal promise that the government would support me
with all the powers at its disposal. Had I not received this pledge, I
should never have presented myself as candidate for a district where I
was unknown."

"My dear lad, I don't know ... I don't know...."

"Castro," said Miguel, seizing him firmly by the hand, and looking at
him with a severe directness, "you are my friend, and you must tell me
the truth.... What is up?"

"You will understand perfectly well that my position does not allow me
to speak frankly. If I could, I would."

"You are either my friend or you are not. Tell me what is going on,"
insisted Miguel, energetically.

"Very well then; if you will give me your word as a gentleman not to
make any use of it, I will tell you."

"I promise."

"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."

"I feel it to the bottom of my heart, my boy. The President must have
found too much pressure brought to bear upon him. Corrales, you see, is
a man of great importance in the present situation!... To-morrow he may
be minister.... And that is the way politics go, my boy.... To-day you,
and to-morrow me."

"Yes, yes; I see how politics go. The President has given me his word of
honor to support my candidacy agai