“We will never be able to thank our neighbors enough for their good intentions, for their demonstration of friendship. But the men they sent were few in number and were not fighting men.”

“If they had been, we wouldn’t have begged you so desperately, Excelencia. Each time we sent a letter, a telegram, or one of us went to Tuxtla to ask for the favor of a meeting, we never failed to consider the immense burden of work that you bear and the importance of the affairs you deal with. Beside that, what could we mean to you?”

“But our situation did not allow for any delay. . . .”

“We were between the sword and the wall.”

“And when I do come here, I find that you have the sword in your hand and the wall has disappeared.”

“We would have wanted to owe our salvation to you, Excelencia, to the government over which you so worthily preside.”

“But even though it hasn’t turned out that way, because circumstances did not allow it to, nevertheless we feel the same gratitude for your will to listen to us, your desire to examine the facts yourself, at first hand.”

“And since we are speaking of gratitude, it is fitting that we should inform the governor of the name of the man to whom we owe the order he has found re-established.”

“I’ve heard praises for Leonardo Cifuentes on everyone’s lips.”

Leonardo did not want and did not know how to feign modesty. Moreover, the subject interested him passionately.

“Times like those we have just passed through in Ciudad Real make a man discover his true capacities. I wanted to defend myself—who doesn’t?—and to defend my interests. I thought of each one of the gentlemen here as if he were myself. For that reason I accepted the title they chose to honor me with.”

“Chief of Operations.”

“Only temporarily, señor Gobernador. While the state of emergency lasted. Or as long as the authorities under whose jurisdiction it fell did not take charge of the matter. At this point, I no longer bear that title or any other.”

“That won’t last long, Cifuentes. Your fellow townsmen have decided, and have informed me of their decision, to launch your candidacy for the Federal Congress.”

Leonardo reddened with satisfaction. He hoped the others would interpret the flush as a sign of surprise.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to serve them if they uproot me from the only place I know well and take me away from the people to whom I am bound by so many ties.”

“You’ll make the sacrifice, Leonardo; you’ll make the sacrifice.”

The women entered with trays of refreshments and platters of sweets. There was a pause while the guests helped themselves.

“Leonardo has the support not only of the respectable people of Ciudad Real but also of the common people. Wherever he goes, he is greeted affectionately, applauded.”