Ностромо

           Whentheyhadbeenleftalonehestoodlookingdown,irresoluteandsilent,watchingtillCaptainMitchellhadrecoveredhispowerofspeech.

           Hereinhisverygraspwasoneofthemenconcernedintheremovalofthesilver.Sotillo’stemperamentwasofthatsortthatheexperiencedanardentdesiretobeathim;justasformerlywhennegotiatingwithdifficultyaloanfromthecautiousAnzani,hisfingersalwaysitchedtotaketheshopkeeperbythethroat.AstoCaptainMitchell,thesuddenness,unexpectedness,andgeneralinconceivablenessofthisexperiencehadconfusedhisthoughts.Moreover,hewasphysicallyoutofbreath.

           “I’vebeenknockeddownthreetimesbetweenthisandthewharf,”hegaspedoutatlast.“Somebodyshallbemadetopayforthis.”Hehadcertainlystumbledmorethanonce,andhadbeendraggedalongforsomedistancebeforehecouldregainhisstride.Withhisrecoveredbreathhisindignationseemedtomaddenhim.Hejumpedup,crimson,allhiswhitehairbristling,hiseyesglaringvengefully,andshookviolentlytheflapsofhisruinedwaistcoatbeforethedisconcertedSotillo.“Look!Thoseuniformedthievesofyoursdownstairshaverobbedmeofmywatch.”

           Theoldsailor’saspectwasverythreatening.Sotillosawhimselfcutofffromthetableonwhichhissabreandrevolverwerelying.

           “Idemandrestitutionandapologies,”Mitchellthunderedathim,quitebesidehimself.