Ностромо
Chapter 10
TherearelotsofItalianssettledhereontherailwaylands,dismissednavvies,mechanics,andsoon,allalongthetrunkline.TherearewholevillagesofItaliansontheCampo.Andthenatives,too,arebeingdrawnintotheseways...Americanbar?Yes.Andoverthereyoucanseeanother.NewYorkersmostlyfrequentthatone——HereweareattheAmarilla.Observethebishopatthefootofthestairstotherightaswegoin.”
Andthelunchwouldbeginandterminateitslavishandleisurelycourseatalittletableinthegallery,CaptainMitchellnodding,bowing,gettinguptospeakforamomenttodifferentofficialsinblackclothes,merchantsinjackets,officersinuniform,middle-agedcaballerosfromtheCampo—sallow,little,nervousmen,andfat,placid,swarthymen,andEuropeansorNorthAmericansofsuperiorstanding,whosefaceslookedverywhiteamongstthemajorityofdarkcomplexionsandblack,glisteningeyes.
CaptainMitchellwouldliebackinthechair,castingaroundlooksofsatisfaction,andtenderoverthetableacasefullofthickcigars.
“Tryaweedwithyourcoffee.Localtobacco.TheblackcoffeeyougetattheAmarilla,sir,youdon’tmeetanywhereintheworld.Wegetthebeanfromafamouscafeteriainthefoot-hills,whoseownersendsthreesackseveryyearasapresenttohisfellowmembersinremembranceofthefightagainstGamacho’sNationals,carriedonfromtheseverywindowsbythecaballeros.Hewasintownatthetime,andtookpart,sir,tothebitterend.
