Ностромо

           “Thispicture,mychildren,muylindaemaravillosa,”FatherRomanwouldsaytosomeofhisflock,“whichyoubeholdherethroughthemunificenceofthewifeofourSenorAdministrador,hasbeenpaintedinEurope,acountryofsaintsandmiracles,andmuchgreaterthanourCostaguana.”Andhewouldtakeapinchofsnuffwithunction.ButwhenonceaninquisitivespiritdesiredtoknowinwhatdirectionthisEuropewassituated,whetherupordownthecoast,FatherRoman,toconcealhisperplexity,becameveryreservedandsevere.“Nodoubtitisextremelyfaraway.ButignorantsinnerslikeyouoftheSanTomemineshouldthinkearnestlyofeverlastingpunishmentinsteadofinquiringintothemagnitudeoftheearth,withitscountriesandpopulationsaltogetherbeyondyourunderstanding.”

           Witha“Good-night,Padre,”“Good-night,DonPepe,”theGobernadorwouldgooff,holdinguphissabreagainsthisside,hisbodybentforward,withalong,ploddingstrideinthedark.Thejocularitypropertoaninnocentcardgameforafewcigarsorabundleofyerbawasreplacedatoncebythesterndutymoodofanofficersettingouttovisittheoutpostsofanencampedarmy.Oneloudblastofthewhistlethathungfromhisneckprovokedinstantlyagreatshrillingofrespondingwhistles,mingledwiththebarkingofdogs,thatwouldcalmdownslowlyatlast,awayupattheheadofthegorge;andinthestillnesstwoserenos,onguardbythebridge,wouldappearwalkingnoiselesslytowardshim.