"Write it down, Señor Director, two hundred pesos for the theater," said Don Filipo. "I further propose that we contract with a troupe of comedians from Tondo for seven performances on seven successive nights. Seven performances at two hundred pesos a night make fourteen hundred pesos. Write down fourteen hundred pesos, Señor Director!" Both the elders and the youths stared in amazement. Only those in the secret gave no sign. "I propose besides that we have magnificent fireworks; no little lights and pin-wheels such as please children and old maids, nothing of the sort. We want big bombs and immense rockets. I propose two hundred big bombs at two pesos each and two hundred rockets at the same price. We'll have them made by the pyrotechnists of Malabon." "Huh!" grunted an old man, "a two-peso bomb doesn't frighten or deafen me! They ought to be three-peso ones." "Write down one thousand pesos for two hundred bombs and two hundred rockets." The conservatives could no longer restrain themselves. Some of them rose and began to whisper together. "Moreover, in order that our visitors may see that we are a liberal people and have plenty of money," continued the speaker, raising his voice and casting a rapid glance at the whispering group of elders, "I propose: first, four _hermanos mayores_ [68] for the two days of the fiesta; and second, that each day there be thrown into the lake two hundred fried chickens, one hundred stuffed capons, and forty roast pigs, as did Sylla, a contemporary of that Cicero, of whom Capitan Basilio just spoke." "That's it, like Sylla," repeated the flattered Capitan Basilio. The surprise steadily increased. "Since many rich people will attend and each one will bring thousands of pesos, his best game-cocks, and his playing-cards, I propose that the cockpit run for fifteen days and that license be granted to open all gambling houses--" The youths interrupted him by rising, thinking that he had gone crazy. The elders were arguing heatedly. "And, finally, that we may not neglect the pleasures of the soul--" The murmurs and cries which arose all over the hall drowned his voice out completely, and tumult reigned. "No!" yelled an irreconcilable conservative. "I don't want him to flatter himself over having run the whole fiesta, no! Let me speak! Let me speak!" "Don Filipo has deceived us," cried the liberals. "We'll vote against his plan. He has gone over to the old men. We'll vote against him!" The gobernadorcillo, more overwhelmed than ever, did nothing to restore order, but rather was waiting for them to restore it themselves. The captain of the cuadrilleros begged to be heard and was granted permission to speak, but he did not open his mouth and sat down again confused and ashamed.