Ностромо

           ThepoliticalGefeofSulaco(thesamedignitarywhomCaptainMitchellsavedfromthemobafterwards)hintedwithnaivecynicismthatdoubtlesstheirExcellenciestheMinisterssentthepadreoverthemountainstoSulacointheworstseasonoftheyearinthehopethathewouldbefrozentodeathbytheicyblastsofthehighparamos.Everyyearafewhardymuleteers—meninuredtoexposure—wereknowntoperishinthatway.Butwhatwouldyouhave?TheirExcellenciespossiblyhadnotrealizedwhatatoughpriesthewas.Meantime,theignorantwerebeginningtomurmurthattheRibieristreformsmeantsimplythetakingawayofthelandfromthepeople.Someofitwastobegiventoforeignerswhomadetherailway;thegreaterpartwastogotothepadres.

           TheseweretheresultsoftheGrandVicar’szeal.EvenfromtheshortallocutiontothetroopsonthePlaza(whichonlythefirstrankscouldhaveheard)hehadnotbeenabletokeepouthisfixedideaofanoutragedChurchwaitingforreparationfromapenitentcountry.ThepoliticalGefehadbeenexasperated.Buthecouldnotverywellthrowthebrother-in-lawofDonJoseintotheprisonoftheCabildo.Thechiefmagistrate,aneasy-goingandpopularofficial,visitedtheCasaGould,walkingoveraftersunsetfromtheIntendencia,unattended,acknowledgingwithdignifiedcourtesythesalutationsofhighandlowalike.