Ностромо
Chapter 2
”
Itwastrue,thatwhensearchedforarmsinthehalldownstairs,beforebeingtakenintoSotillo’spresence,CaptainMitchellhadbeenrelievedofhiswatchandchain;butatthecolonel’sclamouritwasproducedquicklyenough,acorporalbringingitup,carriedcarefullyinthepalmsofhisjoinedhands.Sotillosnatchedit,andpushedtheclenchedfistfromwhichitdangledclosetoCaptainMitchell’sface.
“Nowthen!YouarrogantEnglishman!Youdaretocallthesoldiersofthearmythieves!Beholdyourwatch.”
Heflourishedhisfistasifaimingblowsattheprisoner’snose.CaptainMitchell,helplessasaswathedinfant,lookedanxiouslyatthesixty-guineagoldhalf-chronometer,presentedtohimyearsagobyaCommitteeofUnderwritersforsavingashipfromtotallossbyfire.Sotillo,too,seemedtoperceiveitsvaluableappearance.Hebecamesilentsuddenly,steppedasidetothetable,andbeganacarefulexaminationinthelightofthecandles.Hehadneverseenanythingsofine.Hisofficersclosedinandcranedtheirnecksbehindhisback.
Hebecamesointerestedthatforaninstantheforgothispreciousprisoner.Thereisalwayssomethingchildishintherapacityofthepassionate,clear-minded,Southernraces,wantinginthemistyidealismoftheNortherners,whoatthesmallestencouragementdreamofnothinglessthantheconquestoftheearth.Sotillowasfondofjewels,goldtrinkets,ofpersonaladornment.
