Ностромо

           Evenwhenhewascookingforthe“SignoriInglesi”—theengineers(hewasafamouscook,thoughthekitchenwasadarkplace)—hewas,asitwere,undertheeyeofthegreatmanwhohadledhiminagloriousstrugglewhere,underthewallsofGaeta,tyrannywouldhaveexpiredforeverhaditnotbeenforthataccursedPiedmonteseraceofkingsandministers.Whensometimesafrying-pancaughtfireduringadelicateoperationwithsomeshreddedonions,andtheoldmanwasseenbackingoutofthedoorway,swearingandcoughingviolentlyinanacridcloudofsmoke,thenameofCavour—thearchintriguersoldtokingsandtyrants—couldbeheardinvolvedinimprecationsagainsttheChinagirls,cookingingeneral,andthebruteofacountrywherehewasreducedtolivefortheloveoflibertythattraitorhadstrangled.

           ThenSignoraTeresa,allinblack,issuingfromanotherdoor,advanced,portlyandanxious,incliningherfine,black-browedhead,openingherarms,andcryinginaprofoundtone—

           “Giorgio!thoupassionateman!MisericordiaDivina!Inthesunlikethis!Hewillmakehimselfill.”

           Atherfeetthehensmadeoffinalldirections,withimmensestrides;iftherewereanyengineersfromupthelinestayinginSulaco,ayoungEnglishfaceortwowouldappearatthebilliard-roomoccupyingoneendofthehouse;butattheotherend,inthecafe,Luis,themulatto,tookgoodcarenottoshowhimself.