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           AndallthetimeoursaviourBarriossatintheAmarillaClubdrinkingpunchatanopenwindow.Espritfort—ourBarrios.Iexpectedeverymomentyouruncletolaunchanexcommunicationthereandthenattheblackeye-patchinthewindowacrossthePlaza.Butnotatall.Ultimatelythetroopsmarchedoff.LaterBarrioscamedownwithsomeoftheofficers,andstoodwithhisuniformallunbuttoned,discoursingattheedgeofthepavement.Suddenlyyouruncleappeared,nolongerglittering,butallblack,atthecathedraldoorwiththatthreateningaspecthehas—youknow,likeasortofavengingspirit.Hegivesonelook,stridesoverstraightatthegroupofuniforms,andleadsawaythegeneralbytheelbow.Hewalkedhimforaquarterofanhourintheshadeofawall.Neverletgohiselbowforamoment,talkingallthetimewithexaltation,andgesticulatingwithalongblackarm.Itwasacuriousscene.Theofficersseemedstruckwithastonishment.Remarkableman,yourmissionaryuncle.Hehatesaninfidelmuchlessthanaheretic,andprefersaheathenmanytimestoaninfidel.Hecondescendsgraciouslytocallmeaheathen,sometimes,youknow.”

           Antonialistenedwithherhandsoverthebalustrade,openingandshuttingthefangently;andDecoudtalkedalittlenervously,asifafraidthatshewouldleavehimatthefirstpause.Theircomparativeisolation,theprecioussenseofintimacy,theslightcontactoftheirarms,affectedhimsoftly;fornowandthenatenderinflectioncreptintotheflowofhisironicmurmurs.