Ностромо

           We’llhavelunchattheAmarillaClub—thoughIbelongalsototheAnglo-American—miningengineersandbusinessmen,don’tyouknow—andtotheMirlifloresaswell,anewclub—English,French,Italians,allsorts—livelyyoungfellowsmostly,whowantedtopayacomplimenttoanoldresident,sir.Butwe’lllunchattheAmarilla.Interestyou,Ifancy.Realthingofthecountry.Menofthefirstfamilies.ThePresidentoftheOccidentalRepublichimselfbelongstoit,sir.Fineoldbishopwithabrokennoseinthepatio.Remarkablepieceofstatuary,Ibelieve.CavaliereParrochetti—youknowParrochetti,thefamousItaliansculptor—wasworkingherefortwoyears—thoughtveryhighlyofouroldbishop....There!Iamverymuchatyourservicenow.”

           Proudofhisexperience,penetratedbythesenseofhistoricalimportanceofmen,events,andbuildings,hetalkedpompouslyinjerkyperiods,withslightsweepsofhisshort,thickarm,lettingnothing“escapetheattention”ofhisprivilegedcaptive.

           “Lotofbuildinggoingon,asyouobserve.BeforetheSeparationitwasaplainofburntgrasssmotheredincloudsofdust,withanox-carttracktoourJetty.Nothingmore.ThisistheHarbourGate.Picturesque,isitnot?Formerlythetownstoppedshortthere.WeenternowtheCalledelaConstitucion.ObservetheoldSpanishhouses.Greatdignity.Eh?Isupposeit’sjustasitwasinthetimeoftheViceroys,exceptforthepavement.Woodblocksnow.