Ностромо

           ”ThenDonPepe,modestlymartialinhischair,thellanerowhoseemedsomehowtohavefoundhismartialjocularity,hisknowledgeoftheworld,andhismannerperfectforhisstation,inthemidstofsavagearmedcontestswithhiskind;Avellanos,polishedandfamiliar,thediplomatistwithhisloquacitycoveringmuchcautionandwisdomindelicateadvice,withhismanuscriptofahistoricalworkonCostaguana,entitled“FiftyYearsofMisrule,”which,atpresent,hethoughtitwasnotprudent(evenifitwerepossible)“togivetotheworld”;thesethree,andalsoDonaEmiliaamongstthem,gracious,small,andfairy-like,beforetheglitteringtea-set,withonecommonmaster-thoughtintheirheads,withonecommonfeelingofatensesituation,withoneever-presentaimtopreservetheinviolablecharacterofthemineateverycost.AndtherewasalsotobeseenCaptainMitchell,alittleapart,nearoneofthelongwindows,withanairofold-fashionedneatoldbachelorhoodabouthim,slightlypompous,inawhitewaistcoat,alittledisregardedandunconsciousofit;utterlyinthedark,andimagininghimselftobeinthethickofthings.Thegoodman,havingspentaclearthirtyyearsofhislifeonthehighseasbeforegettingwhathecalleda“shorebillet,”wasastonishedattheimportanceoftransactions(otherthanrelatingtoshipping)whichtakeplaceondryland.