Ностромо

           DonJosebowedtotheseargumentsandtriedtodismissfromhismindthegold-lacedportentinboots,andwithasabre,mademeaninglessnowatlast,hehoped,intheneworderofthings.

           LessthansixmonthsafterthePresident-Dictator’svisit,Sulacolearnedwithstupefactionofthemilitaryrevoltinthenameofnationalhonour.TheMinisterofWar,inabarrack-squareallocutiontotheofficersoftheartilleryregimenthehadbeeninspecting,haddeclaredthenationalhonoursoldtoforeigners.TheDictator,byhisweakcompliancewiththedemandsoftheEuropeanpowers—forthesettlementoflongoutstandingmoneyclaims—hadshowedhimselfunfittorule.AletterfromMoragaexplainedafterwardsthattheinitiative,andeventheverytext,oftheincendiaryallocutioncame,inreality,fromtheotherMontero,theex-guerillero,theCommandantedePlaza.TheenergetictreatmentofDr.Monygham,sentforinhaste“tothemountain,”whocamegallopingthreeleaguesinthedark,savedDonJosefromadangerousattackofjaundice.

           Aftergettingovertheshock,DonJoserefusedtolethimselfbeprostrated.Indeed,betternewssucceededatfirst.Therevoltinthecapitalhadbeensuppressedafteranightoffightinginthestreets.Unfortunately,boththeMonteroshadbeenabletomaketheirescapesouth,totheirnativeprovinceofEntre-Montes.Theherooftheforestmarch,thevictorofRioSeco,hadbeenreceivedwithfrenziedacclamationsinNicoya,theprovincialcapital.