Ностромо

           Itarrivesonthreemules—notinthecommonway,byrail;nofear!—rightintothepatio,escortedbymountedpeons,inchargeoftheMayoralofhisestate,whowalksupstairs,bootedandspurred,anddeliversittoourcommitteeformallywiththewords,‘ForthesakeofthosefallenonthethirdofMay.’WecallitTresdeMayocoffee.Tasteit.”

           CaptainMitchell,withanexpressionasthoughmakingreadytohearasermoninachurch,wouldliftthetinycuptohislips.Andthenectarwouldbesippedtothebottomduringarestfulsilenceinacloudofcigarsmoke.

           “Lookatthismaninblackjustgoingout,”hewouldbegin,leaningforwardhastily.“ThisisthefamousHernandez,MinisterofWar.TheTimes’specialcorrespondent,whowrotethatstrikingseriesofletterscallingtheOccidentalRepublicthe‘TreasureHouseoftheWorld,’gaveawholearticletohimandtheforcehehasorganized—therenownedCarabineersoftheCampo.”

           CaptainMitchell’sguest,staringcuriously,wouldseeafigureinalong-tailedblackcoatwalkinggravely,withdowncasteyelidsinalong,composedface,abrowfurrowedhorizontally,apointedhead,whosegreyhair,thinatthetop,combeddowncarefullyonallsidesandrolledattheends,felllowontheneckandshoulders.This,then,wasthefamousbanditofwhomEuropehadheardwithinterest.Heputonahigh-crownedsombrerowithawideflatbrim;arosaryofwoodenbeadswastwistedabouthisrightwrist.