Ностромо
Chapter 7
Howmuchthedocumenthadcosthimingoldtwenty-dollarpieceswasasecretbetweenhimself,agreatmanintheUnitedStates(whocondescendedtoanswertheSulacomailwithhisownhand),andagreatmanofanothersort,withadarkolivecomplexionandshiftyeyes,inhabitingthenthePalaceoftheIntendenciainSulaco,andwhopiquedhimselfonhiscultureandEuropeanismgenerallyinaratherFrenchstylebecausehehadlivedinEuropeforsomeyears—inexile,hesaid.However,itwasprettywellknownthatjustbeforethisexilehehadincautiouslygambledawayallthecashintheCustomHouseofasmallportwhereafriendinpowerhadprocuredforhimthepostofsubcollector.Thatyouthfulindiscretionhad,amongstotherinconveniences,obligedhimtoearnhislivingforatimeasacafewaiterinMadrid;buthistalentsmusthavebeengreat,afterall,sincetheyhadenabledhimtoretrievehispoliticalfortunessosplendidly.CharlesGould,exposinghisbusinesswithanimperturbablesteadiness,calledhimExcellency.
TheprovincialExcellencyassumedawearysuperiority,tiltinghischairfarbacknearanopenwindowinthetrueCostaguanamanner.Themilitarybandhappenedtobebrayingoperaticselectionsontheplazajustthen,andtwiceheraisedhishandimperativelyforsilenceinordertolistentoafavouritepassage.
“Exquisite,delicious!”hemurmured;whileCharlesGouldwaited,standingbywithinscrutablepatience.“Lucia,LuciadiLammermoor!Iampassionateformusic.Ittransportsme.
