Ностромо

           Gouldcouldkeephisunbeliefinmen’smotiveswithinduebounds;buteventoher(onanoccasionnotconnectedwithNostromo,andinatonewhichforhimwasgentle),eventoher,hehadsaidonce,“Really,itismostunreasonabletodemandthatamanshouldthinkofotherpeoplesomuchbetterthanheisabletothinkofhimself.”

           AndMrs.Gouldhadhastenedtodropthesubject.TherewerestrangerumoursoftheEnglishdoctor.Yearsago,inthetimeofGuzmanBento,hehadbeenmixedup,itwaswhispered,inaconspiracywhichwasbetrayedand,aspeopleexpressedit,drownedinblood.Hishairhadturnedgrey,hishairless,seamedfacewasofabrick-dustcolour;thelargecheckpatternofhisflannelshirtandhisoldstainedPanamahatwereanestablisheddefiancetotheconventionalitiesofSulaco.HaditnotbeenfortheimmaculatecleanlinessofhisapparelhemighthavebeentakenforoneofthoseshiftlessEuropeansthatareamoraleyesoretotherespectabilityofaforeigncolonyinalmosteveryexoticpartoftheworld.TheyoungladiesofSulaco,adorningwithclustersofprettyfacesthebalconiesalongtheStreetoftheConstitution,whentheysawhimpass,withhislimpinggaitandbowedhead,ashortlinenjacketdrawnoncarelesslyovertheflannelcheckshirt,wouldremarktoeachother,“HereistheSenordoctorgoingtocallonDonaEmilia.Hehasgothislittlecoaton.”Theinferencewastrue.Itsdeepermeaningwashiddenfromtheirsimpleintelligence.Moreover,theyexpendednostoreofthoughtonthedoctor.