Ностромо
Chapter 1
AnotheroftheseinformalStatepapersdrawnupbyDonJose(thistimeintheshapeofanaddressfromtheProvince)inducedthatscrupulousconstitutionalisttoaccepttheextraordinarypowersconferreduponhimforfiveyearsbyanoverwhelmingvoteofcongressinSta.Marta.Itwasaspecificmandatetoestablishtheprosperityofthepeopleonthebasisoffirmpeaceathome,andtoredeemthenationalcreditbythesatisfactionofalljustclaimsabroad.
OntheafternoonthenewsofthatvotehadreachedSulacobytheusualroundaboutpostalwaythroughCayta,andupthecoastbysteamer.DonJose,whohadbeenwaitingforthemailintheGoulds’drawing-room,gotoutoftherocking-chair,lettinghishatfalloffhisknees.Herubbedhissilvery,shorthairwithbothhands,speechlesswiththeexcessofjoy.
“Emilia,mysoul,”hehadburstout,“letmeembraceyou!Letme—”
CaptainMitchell,hadhebeenthere,wouldnodoubthavemadeanaptremarkaboutthedawnofanewera;butifDonJosethoughtsomethingofthekind,hiseloquencefailedhimonthisoccasion.TheinspirerofthatrevivaloftheBlancopartytotteredwherehestood.Mrs.Gouldmovedforwardquicklyand,assheofferedhercheekwithasmiletoheroldfriend,managedverycleverlytogivehimthesupportofherarmhereallyneeded.
DonJosehadrecoveredhimselfatonce,butforatimehecoulddonomorethanmurmur,“Oh,youtwopatriots!Oh,youtwopatriots!”—lookingfromonetotheother.
