Page 453 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

between the crinkly coal-black tufts of hair without any lus-
tre, the engaging form of his mouth, and an unexpectedly
cultivated voice. But his eyes, very glistening as if freshly
painted on each side of his hooked nose, had a round, hope-
less, birdlike stare when opened fully. Now, however, he
narrowed them agreeably, throwing his square chin up and
speaking with closed teeth slightly through the nose, with
what he imagined to be the manner of a grand seigneur.
In that attitude, he declared suddenly that the highest
expression of democracy was Caesarism: the imperial rule
based upon the direct popular vote. Caesarism was conser-
vative. It was strong. It recognized the legitimate needs of
democracy which requires orders, titles, and distinctions.
They would be showered upon deserving men. Caesarism
was peace. It was progressive. It secured the prosperity of
a country. Pedrito Montero was carried away. Look at what
the Second Empire had done for France. It was a regime
which delighted to honour men of Don Carlos’s stamp. The
Second Empire fell, but that was because its chief was devoid
of that military genius which had raised General Montero
to the pinnacle of fame and glory. Pedrito elevated his hand
jerkily to help the idea of pinnacle, of fame. ‘We shall have
many talks yet. We shall understand each other thoroughly,
Don Carlos!’ he cried in a tone of fellowship. Republicanism
had done its work. Imperial democracy was the power of the
future. Pedrito, the guerrillero, showing his hand, lowered
his voice forcibly. A man singled out by his fellow-citizens
for the honourable nickname of El Rey de Sulaco could not
but receive a full recognition from an imperial democracy

Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard