Ностромо
Chapter 4
Hewas,however,saidtobeunluckyinthefield—butthiswastobethebeginningofaneraofpeace.Thesoldierslikedhimforhishumanetemper,whichwaslikeastrangeandpreciousflowerunexpectedlybloomingonthehotbedofcorruptrevolutions;andwhenherodeslowlythroughthestreetsduringsomemilitarydisplay,thecontemptuousgoodhumourofhissolitaryeyeroamingoverthecrowdsextortedtheacclamationsofthepopulace.Thewomenofthatclassespeciallyseemedpositivelyfascinatedbythelongdroopingnose,thepeakedchin,theheavylowerlip,theblacksilkeyepatchandbandslantingrakishlyovertheforehead.HishighrankalwaysprocuredanaudienceofCaballerosforhissportingstories,whichhedetailedverywellwithasimple,graveenjoyment.Astothesocietyofladies,itwasirksomebytherestraintsitimposedwithoutanyequivalent,asfarashecouldsee.Hehadnot,perhaps,spokenthreetimesonthewholetoMrs.Gouldsincehehadtakenuphishighcommand;buthehadobservedherfrequentlyridingwiththeSenorAdministrador,andhadpronouncedthattherewasmoresenseinherlittlebridle-handthaninallthefemaleheadsinSulaco.Hisimpulsehadbeentobeverycivilonpartingtoawomanwhodidnotwobbleinthesaddle,andhappenedtobethewifeofapersonalityveryimportanttoamanalwaysshortofmoney.
