So I opened.

It was my agent, who whispered in an excited voice, "The count's quite correct, you are in by seven." "All right," I answered, "tell them we want some more brandy." At that moment Stephen Strong opened his eyes, and at that moment also there arose a mighty burst of cheering from the crowd assembled on the market-place without, to whom the Mayor had declared the numbers from a window of the town-hall.
The dying man heard the cheering, and looked at me inquiringly, for he could not speak.

I tried to explain that I was elected on the recount, but was unable to make him understand.

Then I hit upon an expedient.

On the floor lay a Conservative rosette of blue ribbon.