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           Hewasalwaysoverwhelmedwithdebts;evenduringtheperiodsofsplendourinhisvariedfortunesofaCostaguanageneral,whenheheldhighmilitarycommands,hisgold-laceduniformswerealmostalwaysinpawnwithsometradesman.Andatlast,toavoidtheincessantdifficultiesofcostumecausedbytheanxiouslenders,hehadassumedadisdainofmilitarytrappings,aneccentricfashionofshabbyoldtunics,whichhadbecomelikeasecondnature.ButthefactionBarriosjoinedneededtofearnopoliticalbetrayal.Hewastoomuchofarealsoldierfortheignobletrafficofbuyingandsellingvictories.AmemberoftheforeigndiplomaticbodyinSta.Martahadoncepassedajudgmentuponhim:“Barriosisamanofperfecthonestyandevenofsometalentforwar,maisilmanquedetenue.”AfterthetriumphoftheRibieristshehadobtainedthereputedlylucrativeOccidentalcommand,mainlythroughtheexertionsofhiscreditors(theSta.Martashopkeepers,allgreatpoliticians),whomovedheavenandearthinhisinterestpublicly,andprivatelybesiegedSenorMoraga,theinfluentialagentoftheSanTomemine,withtheexaggeratedlamentationsthatifthegeneralwerepassedover,“Weshallallberuined.”AnincidentalbutfavourablementionofhisnameinMr.Gouldsenior’slongcorrespondencewithhissonhadsomethingtodowithhisappointment,too;butmostofallundoubtedlyhisestablishedpoliticalhonesty.NoonequestionedthepersonalbraveryoftheTiger-killer,asthepopulacecalledhim.