Ностромо
Chapter 7
Threesilentgroupsofciviliansinsevereblackwaitedinthemaingallery,formalandhelpless,alittlehuddledup,eachkeepingapartfromtheothers,asifintheexerciseofapublicdutytheyhadbeenovercomebyadesiretoshunthenoticeofeveryeye.Thesewerethedeputationswaitingfortheiraudience.TheonefromtheProvincialAssembly,morerestlessanduneasyinitscorporateexpression,wasovertoppedbythebigfaceofDonJusteLopez,softandwhite,withprominenteyelidsandwreathedinimpenetrablesolemnityasifinadensecloud.ThePresidentoftheProvincialAssembly,comingbravelytosavethelastshredofparliamentaryinstitutions(ontheEnglishmodel),avertedhiseyesfromtheAdministradoroftheSanTomemineasadignifiedrebukeofhislittlefaithinthatonlysavingprinciple.
ThemournfulseverityofthatreproofdidnotaffectCharlesGould,buthewassensibletotheglancesoftheothersdirecteduponhimwithoutreproach,asifonlytoreadtheirownfateuponhisface.Allofthemhadtalked,shouted,anddeclaimedinthegreatsalaoftheCasaGould.Thefeelingofcompassionforthosemen,struckwithastrangeimpotenceinthetoilsofmoraldegradation,didnotinducehimtomakeasign.Hesufferedfromhisfellowshipinevilwiththemtoomuch.HecrossedthePlazaunmolested.TheAmarillaClubwasfulloffestiveragamuffins.Theirfrowsyheadsprotrudedfromeverywindow,andfromwithincamedrunkenshouts,thethumpingoffeet,andthetwangingofharps.Brokenbottlesstrewedthepavementbelow.
