Ностромо

           HehadbeentravellingintheinterioroftheprovinceforasyndicateofEuropeancapitalists.Hisforcible“Monsieurl’Administrateur”returningeveryminuteshrilledabovethesteadyhumofconversations.Hewasrelatinghisdiscoveries.Hewasecstatic.CharlesGouldglanceddownathimcourteously.

           AtagivenmomentofthesenecessaryreceptionsitwasMrs.Gould’shabittowithdrawquietlyintoalittledrawing-room,especiallyherown,nexttothegreatsala.Shehadrisen,and,waitingforAntonia,listenedwithaslightlyworriedgraciousnesstotheengineer-in-chiefoftherailway,whostoopedoverher,relatingslowly,withouttheslightestgesture,somethingapparentlyamusing,forhiseyeshadahumoroustwinkle.Antonia,beforesheadvancedintotheroomtojoinMrs.Gould,turnedherheadoverhershouldertowardsDecoud,onlyforamoment.

           “Whyshouldanyoneofusthinkhisaspirationsunrealizable?”shesaid,rapidly.

           “Iamgoingtoclingtominetotheend,Antonia,”heanswered,throughclenchedteeth,thenbowedverylow,alittledistantly.

           Theengineer-in-chiefhadnotfinishedtellinghisamusingstory.ThehumoursofrailwaybuildinginSouthAmericaappealedtohiskeenappreciationoftheabsurd,andhetoldhisinstancesofignorantprejudiceandasignorantcunningverywell.Now,Mrs.Gouldgavehimallherattentionashewalkedbyhersideescortingtheladiesoutoftheroom.Finallyallthreepassedunnoticedthroughtheglassdoorsinthegallery.