Ностромо
Chapter 8
James,amabletospeakwithsomeknowledge.”
OnlythenSirJohnthoughtfittorespond,whichhedidgracefullyinbadFrench,punctuatedbyburstsofapplauseandthe“Hear!Hears!”ofCaptainMitchell,whowasabletounderstandawordnowandthen.Directlyhehaddone,thefinancierofrailwaysturnedtoMrs.Gould—
“Youweregoodenoughtosaythatyouintendedtoaskmeforsomething,”heremindedher,gallantly.“Whatisit?Beassuredthatanyrequestfromyouwouldbeconsideredinthelightofafavourtomyself.”
Shethankedhimbyagracioussmile.Everybodywasrisingfromthetable.
“Letusgoondeck,”sheproposed,“whereI’llbeabletopointouttoyoutheveryobjectofmyrequest.”
AnenormousnationalflagofCostaguana,diagonalredandyellow,withtwogreenpalmtreesinthemiddle,floatedlazilyatthemainmastheadoftheJuno.Amultitudeoffireworksbeingletoffintheirthousandsatthewater’sedgeinhonourofthePresidentkeptupamysteriouscrepitatingnoisehalfroundtheharbour.Nowandthenalotofrockets,swishingupwardsinvisibly,detonatedoverheadwithonlyapuffofsmokeinthebrightsky.Crowdsofpeoplecouldbeseenbetweenthetowngateandtheharbour,underthebunchesofmulticolouredflagsflutteringontallpoles.Faintburstsofmilitarymusicwouldbeheardsuddenly,andtheremotesoundofshouting.
