Ностромо
Chapter 3
FatherCorbelanmusthavefoundmessengerstosendintothetown,forearlyontheseconddayofthedisturbancestherewererumoursofHernandezbeingontheroadtoLosHatosreadytoreceivethosewhowouldputthemselvesunderhisprotection.Astrange-lookinghorseman,elderlyandaudacious,hadappearedinthetown,ridingslowlywhilehiseyesexaminedthefrontsofthehouses,asthoughhehadneverseensuchhighbuildingsbefore.Beforethecathedralhehaddismounted,and,kneelinginthemiddleofthePlaza,hisbridleoverhisarmandhishatlyinginfrontofhimontheground,hadbowedhishead,crossinghimselfandbeatinghisbreastforsomelittletime.Remountinghishorse,withafearlessbutnotunfriendlylookroundthelittlegatheringformedabouthispublicdevotions,hehadaskedfortheCasaAvellanos.Ascoreofhandswereextendedinanswer,withfingerspointinguptheCalledelaConstitucion.
ThehorsemanhadgoneonwithonlyaglanceofcasualcuriosityupwardstothewindowsoftheAmarillaClubatthecorner.Hisstentorianvoiceshoutedperiodicallyintheemptystreet,“WhichistheCasaAvellanos?”tillananswercamefromthescaredporter,andhedisappearedunderthegate.Theletterhewasbringing,writtenbyFatherCorbelanwithapencilbythecamp-fireofHernandez,wasaddressedtoDonJose,ofwhosecriticalstatethepriestwasnotaware.Antoniareadit,and,afterconsultingCharlesGould,sentitonfortheinformationofthegentlemengarrisoningtheAmarillaClub.
