Translation to El Cabo Montanez
One day, when Captain Centellas admitted that he was incapable of disciplining the young corporal Montanez, he called him (Montanez) to his side and ordered him, -Take this letter to general Aquiles who is in Lima and await the response. Leave here tomorrow at daybreak and don’t waste any time on the way.-
-As you order, my captain- dijo Montanez, giving him a military salute.
Three days later, he presented himself before the general, a man who was much feared in the army because of his severity and sternness, (grouchiness, etc.)
-Good day, my general-said Montanez with a military air. -Here I bring you this letter from my captain, Centellas, and I await your response.-
Without saying a word, the general opened the letter and read:
Esteemed Aquiles,
The purpose of this letter is to present to you, corporal Montanez who is an excellent soldier. The bad thing (about him) is that he likes to make bets with everyone, and since he always wins, he enjoys a bad reputation. I hope that you will give him a position in the regiment at your command to see if he can be corrected.
The general took the letter, and looking him over from head to toe, he limited himself to these words:
-Corporal Montanez, from today forward, you will remain in my service, but if you don’t behave well, I will execute you.
-Understood, my general.
And so, Montanez entered the general’s regiment, prepared to serve well and to earn new bets, if he could. His move to the noble and old city of Lima had not changed neither his spirit nor his ambition.
One night, the general called his new corporal aside and said:
-Good evening, Montanez. According to a report I have just received, you have not corrected your behavior. It (the report) tells me that you continue making bets and this is not in accordance with the rules of the army. But let’s see. Would you like to prove your luck with me?
At your service, my general.
Well, name the bet
Well, if you want. I bet you five pounds that you have a head covered with moles, dozens of moles, big and ugly ones.
Moles! What insanity! How dare you? That’s absurd. I bet you ten pounds that I do not have them.
Agreed, my general. Let’s see.
And since the general didn’t have even one mole on his head, the poor corporal had to pay the ten pounds and according to his expression, he left full of resignation.
The next week, capitan Centellas received the following letter:
Esteemed Centellas,
Without a doubt, your corporal is an idiot. Take note that he bet me that I had a head covered with dozens of big, ugly moles. Naturally, by just taking off my wig and showing him my baldness with no moles, I earned (gained) ten pounds, that is to say, his salary for the month.
The capitan groaned and responded:
Esteemed Aquiles
You believe that Montanez is an idiot? Well yes and no. Note that before leaving for Lima, he and I bet this: I bet that you would never remove your wig to reveal your baldness, and he (bet) that yes, you would. You won 10 pounds from him, but I lost twenty, that is to say, my salary for the month.