Ностромо

           ”

           “AbominablePedrito!Whothedevilwashe?”wouldwonderthedistinguishedbirdofpassagehoveringontheconfinesofwakingandsleepwithresolutelyopeneyesandafaintbutamiablecurluponhislips,frombetweenwhichstuckouttheeighteenthortwentiethcigarofthatmemorableday.

           “Heappearedtomeinthisveryroomlikeahauntingghost,sir”—CaptainMitchellwastalkingofhisNostromowithtruewarmthoffeelingandatouchofwistfulpride.“Youmayimagine,sir,whataneffectitproducedonme.HehadcomeroundbyseawithBarrios,ofcourse.AndthefirstthinghetoldmeafterIbecamefittohearhimwasthathehadpickedupthelighter’sboatfloatinginthegulf!Heseemedquiteovercomebythecircumstance.Andaremarkableenoughcircumstanceitwas,whenyourememberthatitwasthensixteendayssincethesinkingofthesilver.AtonceIcouldseehewasanotherman.Hestaredatthewall,sir,asiftherehadbeenaspiderorsomethingrunningaboutthere.Thelossofthesilverpreyedonhismind.ThefirstthingheaskedmeaboutwaswhetherDonaAntoniahadheardyetofDecoud’sdeath.Hisvoicetrembled.IhadtotellhimthatDonaAntonia,asamatteroffact,wasnotbackintownyet.Poorgirl!AndjustasIwasmakingreadytoaskhimathousandquestions,withasudden,‘Pardonme,senor,’heclearedoutoftheofficealtogether.Ididnotseehimagainforthreedays.Iwasterriblybusy,youknow.