I beg of you that I may be allowed a few words before any one else speaks.

Have I the good fortune to see my humble request granted by the meeting ?" Here the orator with a faint smile inclined his head respectfully.

"Go on, you have our undivided attention!" said the notables alluded to and some others who considered Capitan Basilio a great orator.

The elders coughed in a satisfied way and rubbed their hands.

After wiping the perspiration from his brow with a silk handkerchief, he then proceeded: "Now that you have been so kind and complaisant with my humble self as to grant me the use of a few words before any one else of those here present, I shall take advantage of this permission, so generously granted, and shall talk.