PORFÍRIO CAETANO DAS NEVES

Everyone noticed that the proclamation made no mention of the Casa Verde, and, according to some, there could be no clearer indication of the barber’s evil intentions. The danger was even more pressing given that, in the midst of these momentous events, the alienist had locked up seven or eight more people, including two women, one of the men being a relative of the Protector. This was undoubtedly not intended as a deliberate challenge or act of defiance, but everyone interpreted it as such and the town was filled with the hope that, within twenty-four hours, the alienist would be in irons and that fearful prison destroyed.

The day ended merrily. While the town crier went around reading out the proclamation on every corner, people spilled out into the streets and swore to defend to the death their illustrious Porfírio. If few bothered to protest against the Casa Verde, this was merely proof of their confidence in the new government. The barber issued a decree declaring the day to be a public holiday, and because the combination of temporal and spiritual powers struck him as highly desirable, he suggested to the priest that a “Te Deum” might be sung. Father Lopes, however, bluntly refused.

“I trust that, in any event, Your Reverence will not join forces with the new government’s enemies?” the barber said to him darkly.

To which Father Lopes replied without replying:

“How could I do that, if the new government has no enemies?”

The barber smiled; it was absolutely true. Apart from the captain, the councillors, and a handful of grandees, the whole town was on his side. Even those grandees who hadn’t publicly backed him, had not come out against him, either. Not one of the municipality’s officials had failed to report for duty. Throughout the town, families blessed the name of the man who would at last liberate Itaguaí from the Casa Verde and the terrible Simão Bacamarte.

Chapter 8

THE APOTHECARY’S DILEMMA

Twenty-four hours after the events narrated in the preceding chapter, the barber, accompanied by two orderlies, left the government palace—as the town hall was now called—and went to the home of Simão Bacamarte. He was not unaware that it would be more fitting for the government to send for Bacamarte; however, fearing that the alienist might not obey, he felt obliged to adopt a tolerant, moderate stance.