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.