Ностромо
Chapter 7
Youmustunderstandthatthisriot,whoseprimaryobjectwasundoubtedlythegettingholdoftheSanTomesilverstoredinthelowerroomsoftheCustomHouse(besidesthegenerallootingoftheRicos),hadacquiredapoliticalcolouringfromthefactoftwoDeputiestotheProvincialAssembly,SenoresGamachoandFuentes,bothfromBolson,puttingthemselvesattheheadofit—lateintheafternoon,itistrue,whenthemob,disappointedintheirhopesofloot,madeastandinthenarrowstreetstothecriesof‘VivalaLibertad!DownwithFeudalism!’(Iwonderwhattheyimaginefeudalismtobe?)‘DownwiththeGothsandParalytics.’IsupposetheSenoresGamachoandFuentesknewwhattheyweredoing.Theyareprudentgentlemen.IntheAssemblytheycalledthemselvesModerates,andopposedeveryenergeticmeasurewithphilanthropicpensiveness.AtthefirstrumoursofMontero’svictory,theyshowedasubtlechangeofthepensivetemper,andbegantodefypoorDonJusteLopezinhisPresidentialtribunewithaneffronterytowhichthepoormancouldonlyrespondbyadazedsmoothingofhisbeardandtheringingofthepresidentialbell.Then,whenthedownfalloftheRibieristcausebecameconfirmedbeyondtheshadowofadoubt,theyhaveblossomedintoconvincedLiberals,actingtogetherasiftheywereSiamesetwins,andultimatelytakingcharge,asitwere,oftheriotinthenameofMonteristprinciples.