Ностромо
Chapter 9
Heclosedhiseyeswearilyandwouldnotopenthemagain,lyingperfectlystill,deaf,dumb,insensible,overcome,vanquished,crushed,annihilatedbythefelldisease.
Butassoonastheotherhadshutafterhimthedoorofthelanding,thecolonelleapedoutwithaflingofbothfeetinanavalancheofwoollencoverings.Hisspurshavingbecomeentangledinaperfectwelterofponchoshenearlypitchedonhishead,anddidnotrecoverhisbalancetillthemiddleoftheroom.Concealedbehindthehalf-closedjalousieshelistenedtowhatwentonbelow.
Theenvoyhadalreadymounted,andturningtothemoroseofficersoccupyingthegreatdoorway,tookoffhishatformally.
“Caballeros,”hesaid,inaveryloudtone,“allowmetorecommendyoutotakegreatcareofyourcolonel.Ithasdonememuchhonourandgratificationtohaveseenyouall,afinebodyofmenexercisingthesoldierlyvirtueofpatienceinthisexposedsituation,wherethereismuchsun,andnowatertospeakof,whileatownfullofwineandfemininecharmsisreadytoembraceyouforthebravemenyouare.Caballeros,Ihavethehonourtosaluteyou.Therewillbemuchdancingto-nightinSulaco.Good-bye!”
Buthereinedinhishorseandinclinedhisheadsidewaysonseeingtheoldmajorstepout,verytallandmeagre,inastraightnarrowcoatcomingdowntohisanklesasitwerethecasingoftheregimentalcoloursrolledroundtheirstaff.
