Savrola · Chapter
The Deputation explained
Savrola arrives at the presidential palace for a meeting with President Molara, but first encounters Lucile, who is going for a drive.
What happens
Savrola arrives at the presidential palace for a meeting with President Molara, but first encounters Lucile, who is going for a drive. After a brief, charming exchange, Savrola meets with the deputation—Godoy, Renos, and the Mayor—to present the people's grievances about unconstitutional rule, restricted franchise, and the violent suppression of protests. Molara responds defiantly, defending his strong government and foreign policy. The confrontation ends with mutual hostility. Later, Savrola returns home to find Moret angry and eager for violent action, but Savrola skillfully calms him over lunch, persuading him to wait.
Themes in this chapter
Revolution and the Struggle for Power
The deputation confronts Molara over his unconstitutional rule, and the threat of popular uprising looms throughout the chapter.
Betrayal and Loyalty
Lucile's smile to Savrola hints at divided loyalties, while Moret's anger suggests potential betrayal of the party's peaceful stance.
Honor, Courage, and Cowardice
Lucile forces herself to drive in public to display courage; Savrola and Molara exchange verbal blows, each asserting their honor.
Characters to notice
- Savrola
Leads the deputation to the President, engages in a tense verbal duel with Molara, and later pacifies the hot-headed Moret over lunch.
- Lucile
Meets Savrola at the palace door while going for a drive; later returns early and smiles at Savrola, displaying her wit and political awareness.
- President Antonio Molara
Receives the deputation, defends his policies, and engages in a bitter exchange with Savrola, revealing deep enmity.
- Moret
Arrives at Savrola's rooms angry and eager for violent action, but is gradually calmed by Savrola's arguments over lunch.
- Lieutenant Tiro
The young officer who receives Savrola in the anteroom and discusses polo with him before the deputation is admitted.
- Miguel
The President's secretary who reads the insulting reply to the English note during the meeting.
- Renos
Member of the deputation who speaks on the legal aspects of the President's actions.
- Godoy
Mayor who states the citizens' grievances and warns of their potential disloyalty.
Key passages
“It was the look of two swordsmen who engage, and it was the look of two bitter enemies; they appeared to measure distances and calculate chances.”
Savrola and Molara stared at each other like duelists, sizing each other up as mortal foes.
Highlights the intense personal and political rivalry between the two leaders.
“He thought he had frightened Molara, if indeed it were possible to frighten such a man; at any rate he had made him angry.”
Savrola believed he had intimidated Molara, or at least provoked his anger.
Shows Savrola's satisfaction in unsettling the President.
“What a beautiful woman she was! How full of that instinctive knowledge of human feelings which is the source of all true wit!”
Savrola admired Lucile's beauty and her intuitive understanding of people, which he saw as the basis of her cleverness.
Reveals Savrola's growing personal admiration for Lucile.
