How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
And he could speak with knowledge; for on a memorable occasion he had been called upon to save the life of a dictator, together with the lives of a few Sulaco officials—the political chief, the director of the customs, and the head of police—belonging to an overturned government. Poor Señor Ribiera (such was the dictator's name) had come pelting eighty miles over mountain tracks after the lost battle of Socorro, in the hope of out-distancing the fatal news—which, of course, he could not manage to do on a lame mule. (I.2.9)
This moment, which occurs early in the book, gives us a sneak peek into the political shenanigans that will take center stage about midway through the novel. In typical form, the narrator stays "above the fray," if you will—s/he doesn't even give us a hint that this little affair of the "overturned government" ends up being at the center of the novel's plot.
Quote #2
He accepted with a like calm the shocking manner in which the Sulaco ladies smothered their faces with pearl powder till they looked like white plaster casts with beautiful living eyes, the peculiar gossip of the town, and the continuous political changes, the constant "saving of the country," which to his wife seemed a puerile and bloodthirsty game of murder and rapine played with terrible earnestness by depraved children. (I.6.8)
Here, the narrator touches upon Charles Gould's perspective on all the political upheavals that Costaguana has endured over time. He cites his weariness with these conflicts in his decision to get the San Tomé mine up and running (he wants to make the country prosperous so they stop fighting all the time).
Quote #3
Of course, rumours had reached him already of the newcomer's intentions. Besides, he had received an official warning from Sta. Marta. His manner was intended simply to conceal his curiosity and impress his visitor. But after he had locked up something valuable in the drawer of a large writing-desk in a distant part of the room, he became very affable, and walked back to his chair smartly. (I.7.12)
In this moment, we're privy to a meeting between a "provincial Excellency" (I.7.10) and Charles Gould. It appears that the meeting gets a lot friendlier when the Excellency gets some cash (presumably from Gould) and squirrels it away in his drawer.