Ностромо

           Thecolonel’soff-handcivilitywasslightlyirresolute,asthoughhewereindoubtifcivilitywerethepropercourseinthiscase.HeobservedCaptainMitchellattentivelybeforehespokefromthebigarmchairbehindthetableinacondescendingvoice—

           “Ihaveconcludednottodetainyou,SenorMitchell.Iamofaforgivingdisposition.Imakeallowances.Letthisbealessontoyou,however.”

           ThepeculiardawnofSulaco,whichseemstobreakfarawaytothewestwardandcreepbackintotheshadeofthemountains,mingledwiththereddishlightofthecandles.CaptainMitchell,insignofcontemptandindifference,lethiseyesroamallovertheroom,andhegaveahardstaretothedoctor,perchedalreadyonthecasementofoneofthewindows,withhiseyelidslowered,carelessandthoughtful—orperhapsashamed.

           Sotillo,ensconcedinthevastarmchair,remarked,“Ishouldhavethoughtthatthefeelingsofacaballerowouldhavedictatedtoyouanappropriatereply.”

           Hewaitedforit,butCaptainMitchellremainingmute,morefromextremeresentmentthanfromreasonedintention,Sotillohesitated,glancedtowardsthedoctor,wholookedupandnodded,thenwentonwithaslighteffort—

           “Here,SenorMitchell,isyourwatch.Learnhowhastyandunjusthasbeenyourjudgmentofmypatrioticsoldiers.”

           Lyingbackinhisseat,heextendedhisarmoverthetableandpushedthewatchawayslightly.