Armada then telephones the Zarzuela Palace again, something he hasn’t done since the King (or the King by way of Fernández Campo) prevented his entry to the Palace fifteen minutes after the beginning of the coup. The general speaks first with the King; like the one he’s just had with Milans, the conversation is not entirely private either: several people listen to the monarch’s words in the Zarzuela; several people listen to Armada’s words at Army General Headquarters. Armada tells the King that the situation is more serious than he thinks, that things are getting worse at the Cortes with every minute that goes by, that Milans won’t withdraw his troops and several military regions are practically in revolt, that there is a risk of dividing the Army and a serious danger of armed confrontation, perhaps of civil war; then he says that Milans and several Captains General consider him the only person qualified to resolve the problem, and that they’ve made him a proposal that has the approval of the rest of the Captains General and also of the generals with him there at the Buenavista. What proposal? asks the King. Focused as intently on the generals listening to him as on the King, instead of answering the question Armada continues playing his role of self-sacrificing servant: the idea strikes him as extravagant, almost inappropriate, but, given that Milans, the Captains General and the rest of the Army assure him there’s no other solution, he is prepared to sacrifice himself for the good of the Crown and of Spain and take on the responsibility and personal costs this will entail. What proposal? repeats the King. Armada sets out the proposal; when he finishes the King still doesn’t know that his former secretary is the leader of the coup — probably doesn’t even suspect it — but does know that he’s trying to get with the coup what he couldn’t get without the coup. Perhaps because he distrusts the influence Armada still has over him, or because he doesn’t want him to remind him of conversations in which they’d discussed the possibility of him occupying the premiership of the government, or because he thinks his current secretary will know how to deal with it better than him, the King asks Armada to wait a moment and hands the phone to Fernández Campo. The two friends speak again, except that now they are more rivals than friends, and they both know it: Fernández Campo suspects Armada is trying to make the most of the coup; Armada knows Fernández Campo fears his ability to influence the King — that’s why he blames him for the fact that a few hours ago the monarch wouldn’t let him enter the Zarzuela — and he guesses how he’ll react when he tells him the only feasible way out of the coup is a government under his leadership. Armada’s guess is confirmed or he feels it’s confirmed: after talking about the risks again, the personal sacrifices and the good of the Crown and of Spain, Armada sets out Milans’ proposal to Fernández Campo and the King’s secretary interrupts him. It’s crazy, he says. I think so too, lies Armada. But if there’s no other option I’m prepared. . Fernández Campo interrupts him again, repeats that what he’s saying is crazy. How can you think the deputies are going to vote you in at gunpoint? he asks. How can you think the King could accept a Prime Minister elected by force? There’s no other solution, answers Armada. Besides, no one will elect me by force. Tejero obeys Milans, so when I get to the Cortes I’ll tell him Milans’ idea and he’ll take his men away and let me speak to the party leaders and make the proposal to them; they can accept it or not, no one’s going to force them to do anything, but I assure you they’ll accept, Sabino, including the Socialists: I’ve spoken to them. It’s all perfectly constitutional; and even if it weren’t: the important thing now is to get the deputies out of there and resolve the emergency; later there’ll be time to go into legal subtleties. One thing for sure is that what’s happening right now in the Cortes is not constitutional. Fernández Campo lets Armada talk, and when Armada finishes talking tells him that everything he’s saying is madness; Armada insists that it’s not madness, and Fernández Campo settles the argument by refusing him permission to go to the Cortes in the name of the King.
A few minutes later the argument is repeated. In the meantime news has arrived at Army General Headquarters that Tejero wants or agrees to speak to Armada, and in the Zarzuela voices rise in favour of allowing the former royal secretary’s move — if he fails, it’ll be him who’s failed; if he succeeds, at least the danger of a bloodbath will have passed — but what makes Armada speak to the Zarzuela again is the return to the Buenavista Palace of General Gabeiras, Chief of the Army General Staff. Armada sets out Milans’ plan to his immediate superior; convinced that it’s a good plan and that there’s nothing to lose by letting Armada try to carry it out, hoping to be more persuasive than his subordinate Gabeiras phones the Zarzuela again. He talks to the King and to Fernández Campo, and reiterates Armada’s reasons to both of them, but both reject them again; then Armada gets on the phone and speaks to Fernández Campo, who tells him again that what he’s proposing is crazy, and then to the King, who answers only by asking him if he’s gone mad. The dispute goes on, calls from Army General Headquarters to the Zarzuela come and go and Armada insists and Gabeiras insists and perhaps voices at the Zarzuela insist and undoubtedly Milans and the Captains General and the generals who support Armada and Gabeiras at the Buenavista insist, and finally, almost at the same moment the mobile television crew arrives at the Zarzuela to record the royal message, the King and Fernández Campo end up giving in. It’s madness, Fernández Campo tells Armada for the umpteenth time. But I can’t prevent you from going to the Cortes; if you want to do it, do it. It has to be clear that you’re going on your own account, absolutely, and only to free the government and deputies: do not invoke the King, whatever you’re proposing is proposed by you and not the King, the King has nothing to do with this. Is that clear?