Decoud, rebuffed in his own attempt at "talking," returns to his scathing denunciation of all political discourse. His eyes "looking into hers" emphasizes that by attacking talk, he is attacking idealism. Indeed, to the skeptical viewpoint, "hiding their fears behind imbecile hopes" is exactly why men take up dream-ideals in general. Antonia's "despair," on the surface a reaction to the parliamentarians' default, could also be a reaction to this skeptical relapse of Decoud's.