Chapter 3

           WHENGeneralBarriosstoppedtoaddressMrs.Gould,Antoniaraisednegligentlyherhandholdinganopenfan,asiftoshadefromthesunherhead,wrappedinalightlaceshawl.Thecleargleamofherblueeyesglidingbehindtheblackfringeofeyelashespausedforamomentuponherfather,thentravelledfurthertothefigureofayoungmanofthirtyatmost,ofmediumheight,ratherthick-set,wearingalightovercoat.Bearingdownwiththeopenpalmofhishandupontheknobofaflexiblecane,hehadbeenlookingonfromadistance;butdirectlyhesawhimselfnoticed,heapproachedquietlyandputhiselbowoverthedoorofthelandau.

           Theshirtcollar,cutlowintheneck,thebigbowofhiscravat,thestyleofhisclothing,fromtheroundhattothevarnishedshoes,suggestedanideaofFrenchelegance;butotherwisehewastheverytypeofafairSpanishcreole.Thefluffymoustacheandtheshort,curly,goldenbearddidnotconcealhislips,rosy,fresh,almostpoutinginexpression.Hisfull,roundfacewasofthatwarm,healthycreolewhitewhichisnevertannedbyitsnativesunshine.MartinDecoudwasseldomexposedtotheCostaguanasununderwhichhewasborn.HispeoplehadbeenlongsettledinParis,wherehehadstudiedlaw,haddabbledinliterature,hadhopednowandtheninmomentsofexaltationtobecomeapoetlikethatotherforeignerofSpanishblood,JoseMariaHeredia.Inothermomentshehad,topassthetime,condescendedtowritearticlesonEuropeanaffairsfortheSemenario,theprincipalnewspaperinSta.