Ностромо
Chapter 5
Withatouchofpenetratingtendernessinhisvoiceheassuredherthathisonlyaspirationwastoafelicitysohighthatitseemedalmostunrealizableonthisearth.
Shecolouredinvisibly,withawarmthagainstwhichthebreezefromthesierraseemedtohavelostitscoolingpowerinthesuddenmeltingofthesnows.Hiswhispercouldnothavecarriedsofar,thoughtherewasenoughardourinhistonetomeltaheartofice.Antoniaturnedawayabruptly,asiftocarryhiswhisperedassuranceintotheroombehind,fulloflight,noisywithvoices.
Thetideofpoliticalspeculationwasbeatinghighwithinthefourwallsofthegreatsala,asifdrivenbeyondthemarksbyagreatgustofhope.DonJuste’sfan-shapedbeardwasstillthecentreofloudandanimateddiscussions.Therewasaself-confidentringinallthevoices.EventhefewEuropeansaroundCharlesGould—aDane,acoupleofFrenchmen,adiscreetfatGerman,smiling,withdown-casteyes,therepresentativesofthosematerialintereststhathadgotafootinginSulacoundertheprotectingmightoftheSanTomemine—hadinfusedalotofgoodhumourintotheirdeference.CharlesGould,towhomtheywerepayingtheircourt,wasthevisiblesignofthestabilitythatcouldbeachievedontheshiftinggroundofrevolutions.Theyfelthopefulabouttheirvariousundertakings.OneofthetwoFrenchmen,small,black,withglitteringeyeslostinanimmensegrowthofbushybeard,wavedhistinybrownhandsanddelicatewrists.
