Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART SECOND: THE ISABELS 5. CHAPTER FIVE (continued)

Basilio, standing aside against the wall, said in a soft tone to
the passing ladies, "The Senor Administrador is just back from
the mountain."

In the great sala, with its groups of ancient Spanish and modern
European furniture making as if different centres under the high
white spread of the ceiling, the silver and porcelain of the
tea-service gleamed among a cluster of dwarf chairs, like a bit
of a lady's boudoir, putting in a note of feminine and intimate
delicacy.

Don Jose in his rocking-chair placed his hat on his lap, and
Decoud walked up and down the whole length of the room, passing
between tables loaded with knick-knacks and almost disappearing
behind the high backs of leathern sofas. He was thinking of the
angry face of Antonia; he was confident that he would make his
peace with her. He had not stayed in Sulaco to quarrel with
Antonia.

Martin Decoud was angry with himself. All he saw and heard going
on around him exasperated the preconceived views of his European
civilization. To contemplate revolutions from the distance of the
Parisian Boulevards was quite another matter. Here on the spot it
was not possible to dismiss their tragic comedy with the
expression, "Quelle farce!"

The reality of the political action, such as it was, seemed
closer, and acquired poignancy by Antonia's belief in the cause.
Its crudeness hurt his feelings. He was surprised at his own
sensitiveness.

"I suppose I am more of a Costaguanero than I would have believed
possible," he thought to himself.

His disdain grew like a reaction of his scepticism against the
action into which he was forced by his infatuation for Antonia.
He soothed himself by saying he was not a patriot, but a lover.

The ladies came in bareheaded, and Mrs. Gould sank low before the
little tea-table. Antonia took up her usual place at the
reception hour--the corner of a leathern couch, with a rigid
grace in her pose and a fan in her hand. Decoud, swerving from
the straight line of his march, came to lean over the high back
of her seat.