Ностромо
Chapter 3
Inthegeneralbewildermentofthecollapsesomejumpedattheideawithjoyfulastonishmentasupontheamazingdiscoveryofanewhope.Othersbecamefascinatedbytheprospectofimmediatepersonalsafetyfortheirwomenandchildren.Themajoritycaughtatitasadrowningmancatchesatastraw.FatherCorbelanwasunexpectedlyofferingthemarefugefromPedritoMonterowithhisllanerosalliedtoSenoresFuentesandGamachowiththeirarmedrabble.
AllthelatterpartoftheafternoonananimateddiscussionwentoninthebigroomsoftheAmarillaClub.Eventhosememberspostedatthewindowswithriflesandcarbinestoguardtheendofthestreetincaseofanoffensivereturnofthepopulaceshoutedtheiropinionsandargumentsovertheirshoulders.AsduskfellDonJusteLopez,invitingthosecaballeroswhowereofhiswayofthinkingtofollowhim,withdrewintothecorredor,whereatalittletableinthelightoftwocandleshebusiedhimselfincomposinganaddress,orratherasolemndeclarationtobepresentedtoPedritoMonterobyadeputationofsuchmembersofAssemblyashadelectedtoremainintown.Hisideawastopropitiatehiminordertosavetheformatleastofparliamentaryinstitutions.Seatedbeforeablanksheetofpaper,agoose-quillpeninhishandandsurgeduponfromallsides,heturnedtotherightandtotheleft,repeatingwithsolemninsistence—
“Caballeros,amomentofsilence!Amomentofsilence!Weoughttomakeitclearthatwebowinallgoodfaithtotheaccomplishedfacts.
