"Yes, the noise outside the city wall is new, but the principle is old."

He ruminated his discontent for a while, then began afresh with a
sidelong glance at Antonia--

"No, but just imagine our forefathers in morions and corselets drawn
up outside this gate, and a band of adventurers just landed from their
ships in the harbour there. Thieves, of course. Speculators, too. Their
expeditions, each one, were the speculations of grave and reverend
persons in England. That is history, as that absurd sailor Mitchell is
always saying."

"Mitchell's arrangements for the embarkation of the troops were
excellent!" exclaimed Don Jose.

"That!--that! oh, that's really the work of that Genoese seaman! But
to return to my noises; there used to be in the old days the sound of
trumpets outside that gate. War trumpets! I'm sure they were trumpets. I
have read somewhere that Drake, who was the greatest of these men, used
to dine alone in his cabin on board ship to the sound of trumpets. In
those days this town was full of wealth. Those men came to take it.
Now the whole land is like a treasure-house, and all these people are
breaking into it, whilst we are cutting each other's throats. The only
thing that keeps them out is mutual jealousy. But they'll come to an
agreement some day--and by the time we've settled our quarrels and
become decent and honourable, there'll be nothing left for us. It has
always been the same. We are a wonderful people, but it has always
been our fate to be"--he did not say "robbed," but added, after a
pause--"exploited!"

Mrs. Gould said, "Oh, this is unjust!" And Antonia interjected, "Don't
answer him, Emilia. He is attacking me."

"You surely do not think I was attacking Don Carlos!" Decoud answered.

And then the carriage stopped before the door of the Casa Gould. The
young man offered his hand to the ladies. They went in first together;
Don Jose walked by the side of Decoud, and the gouty old porter tottered
after them with some light wraps on his arm.

Don Jose slipped his hand under the arm of the journalist of Sulaco.

"The Porvenir must have a long and confident article upon Barrios and
the irresistibleness of his army of Cayta! The moral effect should be
kept up in the country. We must cable encouraging extracts to Europe and
the United States to maintain a favourable impression abroad."

Decoud muttered, "Oh, yes, we must comfort our friends, the
speculators."

The long open gallery was