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           Theopinionsheexpressedappearedeminentlynaturalandproperinamanofhisparentageandantecedents.Andhewasnotadeceiver;itwasperfectlynaturalforhimtoexpresselevatedsentimentswhilehiswholefacultiesweretakenupwithwhatseemedthenasolidandpracticalnotion—thenotionthatthehusbandofAntoniaAvellanoswouldbe,naturally,theintimatefriendoftheGouldConcession.HeevenpointedthisouttoAnzanionce,whennegotiatingthesixthorseventhsmallloaninthegloomy,dampapartmentwithenormousironbars,behindtheprincipalshopinthewholerowundertheArcades.Hehintedtotheuniversalshopkeeperattheexcellenttermshewasonwiththeemancipatedsenorita,whowaslikeasistertotheEnglishwoman.Hewouldadvanceonelegandputhisarmsakimbo,posingforAnzani’sinspection,andfixinghimwithahaughtystare.

           “Look,miserableshopkeeper!Howcanamanlikemefailwithanywoman,letaloneanemancipatedgirllivinginscandalousfreedom?”heseemedtosay.

           HismannerintheCasaGouldwas,ofcourse,verydifferent—devoidofalltruculence,andevenslightlymournful.Likemostofhiscountrymen,hewascarriedawaybythesoundoffinewords,especiallyifutteredbyhimself.Hehadnoconvictionsofanysortuponanythingexceptastotheirresistiblepowerofhispersonaladvantages.ButthatwassofirmthatevenDecoud’sappearanceinSulaco,andhisintimacywiththeGouldsandtheAvellanos,didnotdisquiethim.