Ностромо
Chapter 7
Itwasknownthathehadeasyaccesstoministers,andthatthenumerousCostaguanageneralswerealwaysanxioustodineathishouse.Presidentsgrantedhimaudiencewithfacility.Hecorrespondedactivelywithhismaternaluncle,DonJoseAvellanos;buthisletters—unlessthoseexpressingformallyhisdutifulaffection—wereseldomentrustedtotheCostaguanaPostOffice.Theretheenvelopesareopened,indiscriminately,withthefranknessofabrazenandchildishimpudencecharacteristicofsomeSpanish-AmericanGovernments.Butitmustbenotedthatataboutthetimeofthere-openingoftheSanTomeminethemuleteerwhohadbeenemployedbyCharlesGouldinhispreliminarytravelsontheCampoaddedhissmalltrainofanimalstothethinstreamoftrafficcarriedoverthemountainpassesbetweentheSta.MartauplandandtheValleyofSulaco.Therearenotravellersbythatarduousandunsaferouteunlessunderveryexceptionalcircumstances,andthestateofinlandtradedidnotvisiblyrequireadditionaltransportfacilities;butthemanseemedtofindhisaccountinit.Afewpackageswerealwaysfoundforhimwheneverhetooktheroad.Verybrownandwooden,ingoatskinbreecheswiththehairoutside,hesatnearthetailofhisownsmartmule,hisgreathatturnedagainstthesun,anexpressionofblissfulvacancyonhislongface,hummingdayafterdayalove-songinaplaintivekey,or,withoutachangeofexpression,lettingoutayellathissmalltropillainfront
