Ностромо

           “Oh,Iknowyouwilldefendmymemory,”heutteredatlast,andrantotteringdownthestairsacrossthepatio,andoutofthehouse.Inthestreethekeptup.agreatpacewithhissmarthobblingwalk,acaseofinstrumentsunderhisarm.Hewasknownforbeingloco.Nobodyinterferedwithhim.Fromundertheseawardgate,acrossthedusty,aridplain,interspersedwithlowbushes,hesaw,morethanamileaway,theuglyenormityoftheCustomHouse,andthetwoorthreeotherbuildingswhichatthattimeconstitutedtheseaportofSulaco.Farawaytothesouthgrovesofpalmtreesedgedthecurveoftheharbourshore.ThedistantpeaksoftheCordillerahadlosttheiridentityofclearcutshapesinthesteadilydeepeningblueoftheeasternsky.Thedoctorwalkedbriskly.Adarklingshadowseemedtofalluponhimfromthezenith.Thesunhadset.ForatimethesnowsofHiguerotacontinuedtoglowwiththereflectedgloryofthewest.Thedoctor,holdingastraightcoursefortheCustomHouse,appearedlonely,hoppingamongstthedarkbusheslikeatallbirdwithabrokenwing.

           Tintsofpurple,gold,andcrimsonweremirroredintheclearwateroftheharbour.Alongtongueofland,straightasawall,withthegrass-grownruinsofthefortmakingasortofroundedgreenmound,plainlyvisiblefromtheinnershore,closeditscircuit;whilebeyondthePlacidGulfrepeatedthosesplendoursofcolouringonagreaterscaleandwithamoresombremagnificence