Ностромо
Chapter 7
Aroundlittleguitarhunghighuponhisback;andtherewasaplacescoopedoutartisticallyinthewoodofoneofhispack-saddleswhereatightlyrolledpieceofpapercouldbeslippedin,thewoodenplugreplaced,andthecoarsecanvasnailedonagain.WheninSulacoitwashispracticetosmokeanddozealldaylong(asthoughhehadnocareintheworld)onastonebenchoutsidethedoorwayoftheCasaGouldandfacingthewindowsoftheAvellanoshouse.Yearsandyearsagohismotherhadbeenchieflaundry-womaninthatfamily—veryaccomplishedinthematterofclear-starching.Hehimselfhadbeenbornononeoftheirhaciendas.HisnamewasBonifacio,andDonJose,crossingthestreetaboutfiveo’clocktocallonDonaEmilia,alwaysacknowledgedhishumblesalutebysomemovementofhandorhead.Theportersofbothhousesconversedlazilywithhimintonesofgraveintimacy.Hiseveningshedevotedtogamblingandtocallsinaspiritofgenerousfestivityuponthepeyned’orogirlsinthemoreremoteside-streetsofthetown.Buthe,too,wasadiscreetman.
