Ностромо
Chapter 12
Herdeep,vibrating“Eh,Padre?”seemed,butforthechangeoftheword,theveryechooftheimpassioned,remonstrating“Eh,Giorgio?”ofpoorSignoraTeresa.Itwashisfixedopinionthatthetownwasnoproperplaceforhisgirls.TheinfatuatedbutguilelessRamirezwastheobjectofhisprofoundaversion,asresumingthesinsofthecountrywhosepeoplewereblind,vileesclavos.
Onhisreturnfromhisnextvoyage,CaptainFidanzafoundtheViolassettledinthelight-keeper’scottage.HisknowledgeofGiorgio’sidiosyncrasieshadnotplayedhimfalse.TheGaribaldinohadrefusedtoentertaintheideaofanycompanionwhatever,excepthisgirls.AndCaptainMitchell,anxioustopleasehispoorNostromo,withthatfelicityofinspirationwhichonlytrueaffectioncangive,hadformallyappointedLindaViolaasunder-keeperoftheIsabel’sLight.
“Thelightisprivateproperty,”heusedtoexplain.“ItbelongstomyCompany.I’vethepowertonominatewhomIlike,andViolaitshallbe.It’sabouttheonlythingNostromo—amanworthhisweightingold,mindyou—haseveraskedmetodoforhim.”
DirectlyhisschoonerwasanchoredoppositetheNewCustomHouse,withitsshamairofaGreektemple,flatroofed,withacolonnade,CaptainFidanzawentpullinghissmallboatoutoftheharbour,boundfortheGreatIsabel,openlyinthelightofadecliningday,beforeallmen’seyes,withasenseofhavingmasteredthefates.Hemustestablisharegularposition.
