Ностромо
Chapter 5
Meantime,howwashegoingtotakehissiesta?HehadexpectedtofindcomfortandluxuryintheIntendenciaafterayearofhardcamplife,endingwiththehardshipsandprivationsofthedaringdashuponSulaco—upontheprovincewhichwasworthmoreinwealthandinfluencethanalltherestoftheRepublic’sterritory.HewouldgetevenwithGamachoby-and-by.AndSenorGamacho’soration,delectabletopopularears,wentonintheheatandglareofthePlazaliketheuncouthhowlingsofaninferiorsortofdevilcastintoawhite-hotfurnace.Everymomenthehadtowipehisstreamingfacewithhisbarefore-arm;hehadflungoffhiscoat,andhadturnedupthesleevesofhisshirthighabovetheelbows;buthekeptonhisheadthelargecockedhatwithwhiteplumes.HisingenuousnesscherishedthissignofhisrankasCommandanteoftheNationalGuards.Approvingandgravemurmursgreetedhisperiods.HisopinionwasthatwarshouldbedeclaredatonceagainstFrance,England,Germany,andtheUnitedStates,who,byintroducingrailways,miningenterprises,colonization,andundersuchothershallowpretences,aimedatrobbingpoorpeopleoftheirlands,andwiththehelpoftheseGothsandparalytics,thearistocratswouldconvertthemintotoilingandmiserableslaves.Andtheleperos,flingingaboutthecornersoftheirdirtywhitemantas,yelledtheirapprobation.GeneralMontero,Gamachohowledwithconviction,wastheonlymanequaltothepatriotictask.Theyassentedtothat,too
