Ностромо

           Someslightincident,achancewordwouldsethimofftalkingonthebeachtotheItalianfishermenofMaldonado,inthelittleshophekeptafterwards(inValparaiso)tohiscountrymencustomers;ofanevening,suddenly,inthecafeatoneendoftheCasaViola(theotherwasreservedfortheEnglishengineers)totheselectclienteleofengine-driversandforemenoftherailwayshops.

           Withtheirhandsome,bronzed,leanfaces,shinyblackringlets,glisteningeyes,broad-chested,bearded,sometimesatinygoldringinthelobeoftheear,thearistocracyoftherailwayworkslistenedtohim,turningawayfromtheircardsordominoes.Hereandthereafair-hairedBasquestudiedhishandmeantime,waitingwithoutprotest.NonativeofCostaguanaintrudedthere.ThiswastheItalianstronghold.EventheSulacopolicemenonanightpatrollettheirhorsespacesoftlyby,bendinglowinthesaddletoglancethroughthewindowattheheadsinafogofsmoke;andthedroneofoldGiorgio’sdeclamatorynarrativeseemedtosinkbehindthemintotheplain.Onlynowandthentheassistantofthechiefofpolice,somebroad-faced,brownlittlegentleman,withagreatdealofIndianinhim,wouldputinanappearance.Leavinghismanoutsidewiththehorsesheadvancedwithaconfident,slysmile,andwithoutaworduptothelongtrestletable.Hepointedtooneofthebottlesontheshelf;Giorgio,thrustinghispipeintohismouthabruptly,servedhiminperson.Nothingwouldbeheardbuttheslightjingleofthespurs