Ностромо
Chapter 3
Intheintervalsthesingleshotsrangfeebly,andthelow,long,whitebuildingblindedineverywindowseemedtobethecentreofaturmoilwideninginagreatcircleaboutitsclosed-upsilence.Butthecautiousmovementsandwhispersofaroutedpartyseekingamomentaryshelterbehindthewallmadethedarknessoftheroom,stripedbythreadsofquietsunlight,alightwithevil,stealthysounds.TheViolashadthemintheirearsasthoughinvisibleghostshoveringabouttheirchairshadconsultedinmuttersastotheadvisabilityofsettingfiretothisforeigner’scasa.
Itwastryingtothenerves.OldViolahadrisenslowly,guninhand,irresolute,forhedidnotseehowhecouldpreventthem.Alreadyvoicescouldbeheardtalkingattheback.SignoraTeresawasbesideherselfwithterror.
“Ah!thetraitor!thetraitor!”shemumbled,almostinaudibly.“Nowwearegoingtobeburnt;andIbentmykneetohim.No!hemustrunattheheelsofhisEnglish.”
SheseemedtothinkthatNostromo’smerepresenceinthehousewouldhavemadeitperfectlysafe.Sofar,she,too,wasunderthespellofthatreputationtheCapatazdeCargadoreshadmadeforhimselfbythewaterside,alongtherailwayline,withtheEnglishandwiththepopulaceofSulaco.Tohisface,andevenagainstherhusband,sheinvariablyaffectedtolaughittoscorn,sometimesgood-naturedly,moreoftenwithacuriousbitterness.Butthenwomenareunreasonableintheiropinions,asGiorgiousedtoremarkcalmlyonfittingoccasions.
