Ностромо
Chapter 1
Youknow,”wentonthedoctor,hesitatingly,“womenaresoveryunaccountableineveryposition,andatalltimesoflife,thatIthoughtsometimesshewasinaway,don’tyousee?inlovewithhim—theCapataz.Therascalhashisowncharmindubitably,orhewouldnothavemadetheconquestofallthepopulaceofthetown.No,no,Iamnotabsurd.Imayhavegivenawrongnametosomestrongsentimentforhimonherpart,toanunreasonableandsimpleattitudeawomanisapttotakeupemotionallytowardsaman.Sheusedtoabusehimtomefrequently,which,ofcourse,isnotinconsistentwithmyidea.Notatall.Itlookedtomeasifshewerealwaysthinkingofhim.Hewassomethingimportantinherlife.Youknow,Ihaveseenalotofthosepeople.WheneverIcamedownfromthemineMrs.Gouldusedtoaskmetokeepmyeyeonthem.ShelikesItalians;shehaslivedalongtimeinItaly,Ibelieve,andshetookaspecialfancytothatoldGaribaldino.Aremarkablechapenough.Aruggedanddreamycharacter,livingintherepublicanismofhisyoungdaysasifinacloud.HehasencouragedmuchoftheCapataz’sconfoundednonsense—thehigh-strung,exaltedoldbeggar!”
“Whatsortofnonsense?”wonderedthechiefengineer.“IfoundtheCapatazalwaysaveryshrewdandsensiblefellow,absolutelyfearless,andremarkablyuseful.Aperfecthandyman.SirJohnwasgreatlyimpressedbyhisresourcefulnessandattentionwhenhemadethatoverlandjourneyfromSta.Marta.