A Tale of the Seaboard Joseph Conrad - Penn State University

Joseph Conrad
usual position, leaning back in the doorway with an upward glance
fastened on the white shoulder of Higuerota far away.
In the carriage Martin Decoud, shifting his position as though he
could not make himself comfortable, muttered as he swayed towards
Antonia, “I suppose you hate me.” Then in a loud voice he
began to congratulate Don Jose upon all the engineers being convinced
Ribierists. The interest of all those foreigners was gratifying.
“You have heard this one. He is an enlightened well-wisher. It is
pleasant to think that the prosperity of Costaguana is of some use to
the world.”
“He is very young,” Mrs. Gould remarked, quietly.
“And so very wise for his age,” retorted Decoud. “But here we
have the naked truth from the mouth of that child. You are right,
Don Jose. The natural treasures of Costaguana are of importance to
the progressive Europe represented by this youth, just as three hundred
years ago the wealth of our Spanish fathers was a serious object
to the rest of Europe—as represented by the bold buccaneers. There
is a curse of futility upon our character: Don Quixote and Sancho
Panza, chivalry and materialism, high-sounding sentiments and a
supine morality, violent efforts for an idea and a sullen acquiescence
in every form of corruption. We convulsed a continent for our independence
only to become the passive prey of a democratic parody,
the helpless victims of scoundrels and cut-throats, our institutions a
mockery, our laws a farce—a Guzman Bento our master! And we
have sunk so low that when a man like you has awakened our conscience,
a stupid barbarian of a Montero—Great Heavens! a
Montero!—becomes a deadly danger, and an ignorant, boastful
Indio, like Barrios, is our defender.”
But Don Jose, disregarding the general indictment as though he
had not heard a word of it, took up the defence of Barrios. The man
was competent enough for his special task in the plan of campaign.
It consisted in an offensive movement, with Cayta as base, upon the
flank of the Revolutionist forces advancing from the south against
Sta. Marta, which was covered by another army with the President-
Dictator in its midst. Don Jose became quite animated with a great
flow of speech, bending forward anxiously under the steady eyes of
his daughter. Decoud, as if silenced by so much ardour, did not
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