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Chapter 5
Theexcellentaspectofthetroopsandthegreatquantityofnewdeadlyriflesontheshouldersofthosebravemenseemedtofillhimwithanecstaticconfidence.
CharlesGould,verytallandthinbeforehischair,listened,butnothingcouldbediscoveredinhisfaceexceptakindanddeferentialattention.
Meantime,Antoniahadrisen,and,crossingtheroom,stoodlookingoutofoneofthethreelongwindowsgivingonthestreet.Decoudfollowedher.Thewindowwasthrownopen,andheleanedagainstthethicknessofthewall.Thelongfoldsofthedamaskcurtain,fallingstraightfromthebroadbrasscornice,hidhimpartlyfromtheroom.Hefoldedhisarmsonhisbreast,andlookedsteadilyatAntonia’sprofile.
Thepeoplereturningfromtheharbourfilledthepavements;theshuffleofsandalsandalowmurmurofvoicesascendedtothewindow.NowandthenacoachrolledslowlyalongthedisjointedroadwayoftheCalledelaConstitucion.TherewerenotmanyprivatecarriagesinSulaco;atthemostcrowdedhourontheAlamedatheycouldbecountedwithoneglanceoftheeye.Thegreatfamilyarksswayedonhighleathernsprings,fullofprettypowderedfacesinwhichtheeyeslookedintenselyaliveandblack.AndfirstDonJusteLopez,thePresidentoftheProvincialAssembly,passedwithhisthreelovelydaughters,solemninablackfrock-coatandstiffwhitetie,aswhendirectingadebatefromahightribune.
