Ностромо
Chapter 3
Idaresayitisnogreatmatterforyoutobelockedup.ButJoeMitchellisadifferentkindofman,sir.Idon’tmeantosubmittamelytoinsultandrobbery.Iamapubliccharacter,sir.”
AndthenCaptainMitchellbecameawarethatthebarsoftheopeninghadbecomevisible,ablackgratinguponasquareofgrey.ThecomingofthedaysilencedCaptainMitchellasifbythereflectionthatnowinallthefuturedayshewouldbedeprivedoftheinvaluableservicesofhisCapataz.Heleanedagainstthewallwithhisarmsfoldedonhisbreast,andthedoctorwalkedupanddownthewholelengthoftheplacewithhispeculiarhobblinggait,asifslinkingaboutondamagedfeet.Attheendfurthestfromthegratinghewouldbelostaltogetherinthedarkness.Onlytheslightlimpingshufflecouldbeheard.Therewasanairofmoodydetachmentinthatpainfulprowlkeptupwithoutapause.Whenthedooroftheprisonwassuddenlyflungopenandhisnameshoutedoutheshowednosurprise.Heswervedsharplyinhiswalk,andpassedoutatonce,asthoughmuchdependeduponhisspeed;butCaptainMitchellremainedforsometimewithhisshouldersagainstthewall,quiteundecidedinthebitternessofhisspiritwhetheritwouldn’tbebettertorefusetostiralimbinthewayofprotest.Hehadhalfamindtogethimselfcarriedout,butaftertheofficeratthedoorhadshoutedthreeorfourtimesintonesofremonstranceandsurprisehecondescendedtowalkout.
Sotillo’smannerhadchanged.
