In one village alone, the presiding officer had been able to evade the vigilance of the guards sent by Cæsar and Uncle Chinaman, and change the number of votes in the returns; but despite this, the election was won for Cæsar.
The next day the exact result of the election was known. It stood:
Moncada, 3705. García Padilla, 1823. San Román, 750.
When it was known that Cæsar had played a trick on his enemies under their noses, he came into great estimation.
The judge said:
“I believe you were all deceived. You supposed Don Cæsar to be a sucking dove, and he is going to turn out to be a vulture for us.”
Cæsar listened to felicitations and accepted congratulations smiling, and some days later returned to Madrid.