Ностромо

           Wholevillageswereknowntohavevolunteeredforthearmyinthatway;but,asDonPepewouldsaywithahopelessshrugtoMrs.Gould,“Whatwouldyou!Poorpeople!Pobrecitos!Pobrecitos!ButtheStatemusthaveitssoldiers.”

           ThusprofessionallyspokeDonPepe,thefighter,withpendentmoustaches,anut-brown,leanface,andacleanrunofacast-ironjaw,suggestingthetypeofacattle-herdhorsemanfromthegreatLlanosoftheSouth.“IfyouwilllistentoanoldofficerofPaez,senores,”wastheexordiumofallhisspeechesintheAristocraticClubofSulaco,wherehewasadmittedonaccountofhispastservicestotheextinctcauseofFederation.Theclub,datingfromthedaysoftheproclamationofCostaguana’sindependence,boastedmanynamesofliberatorsamongstitsfirstfounders.SuppressedarbitrarilyinnumerabletimesbyvariousGovernments,withmemoriesofproscriptionsandofatleastonewholesalemassacreofitsmembers,sadlyassembledforabanquetbytheorderofazealousmilitarycommandante(theirbodieswereafterwardsstrippednakedandflungintotheplazaoutofthewindowsbythelowestscumofthepopulace),itwasagainflourishing,atthatperiod,peacefully.Itextendedtostrangersthelargehospitalityofthecool,bigroomsofitshistoricquartersinthefrontpartofahouse,oncetheresidenceofahighofficialoftheHolyOffice.