Ностромо
Chapter 7
Onewassittingonthetopsteptearingapieceoflinenhastilyintostrips—theyoungwifeofanelderlymanoffortunehere.Sheinterruptedherselftowaveherhandtomybow,asthoughshewereinhercarriageontheAlameda.Thewomenofourcountryareworthlookingatduringarevolution.Therougeandpearlpowderfalloff,togetherwiththatpassiveattitudetowardstheouterworldwhicheducation,tradition,customimposeuponthemfromtheearliestinfancy.Ithoughtofyourface,whichfromyourinfancyhadthestampofintelligenceinsteadofthatpatientandresignedcastwhichappearswhensomepoliticalcommotiontearsdowntheveilofcosmeticsandusage.
“InthegreatsalaupstairsasortofJuntaofNotableswassitting,theremnantofthevanishedProvincialAssembly.DonJusteLopezhadhadhalfhisbeardsingedoffatthemuzzleofatrabucoloadedwithslugs,ofwhicheveryonemissedhim,providentially.Andasheturnedhisheadfromsidetosideitwasexactlyasiftherehadbeentwomeninsidehisfrock-coat,onenoblywhiskeredandsolemn,theotheruntidyandscared.
“Theyraisedacryof‘Decoud!DonMartin!’atmyentrance.Iaskedthem,‘Whatareyoudeliberatingupon,gentlemen?’Theredidnotseemtobeanypresident,thoughDonJoseAvellanossatattheheadofthetable.Theyallansweredtogether,‘Onthepreservationoflifeandproperty.’‘Tillthenewofficialsarrive,’DonJusteexplainedtome,withthesolemnsideofhisfaceofferedtomyview.
