Ностромо
Chapter 5
”
Inthegreatsala,withitsgroupsofancientSpanishandmodernEuropeanfurnituremakingasifdifferentcentresunderthehighwhitespreadoftheceiling,thesilverandporcelainofthetea-servicegleamedamongaclusterofdwarfchairs,likeabitofalady’sboudoir,puttinginanoteoffeminineandintimatedelicacy.
DonJoseinhisrocking-chairplacedhishatonhislap,andDecoudwalkedupanddownthewholelengthoftheroom,passingbetweentablesloadedwithknick-knacksandalmostdisappearingbehindthehighbacksofleathernsofas.HewasthinkingoftheangryfaceofAntonia;hewasconfidentthathewouldmakehispeacewithher.HehadnotstayedinSulacotoquarrelwithAntonia.
MartinDecoudwasangrywithhimself.AllhesawandheardgoingonaroundhimexasperatedthepreconceivedviewsofhisEuropeancivilization.TocontemplaterevolutionsfromthedistanceoftheParisianBoulevardswasquiteanothermatter.Hereonthespotitwasnotpossibletodismisstheirtragiccomedywiththeexpression,“Quellefarce!”
Therealityofthepoliticalaction,suchasitwas,seemedcloser,andacquiredpoignancybyAntonia’sbeliefinthecause.Itscrudenesshurthisfeelings.Hewassurprisedathisownsensitiveness.
“IsupposeIammoreofaCostaguanerothanIwouldhavebelievedpossible,”hethoughttohimself.
