Ностромо

           Themarblemedallioninthewall,intheantiquestyle,representingaveiledwomanseatedwithherhandsclaspedlooselyoverherknees,commemoratesthatunfortunateyounggentlemanwhosailedoutwithNostromoonthatfatalnight,sir.See,‘TothememoryofMartinDecoud,hisbetrothedAntoniaAvellanos.’Frank,simple,noble.Thereyouhavethatlady,sir,assheis.Anexceptionalwoman.Thosewhothoughtshewouldgivewaytodespairweremistaken,sir.Shehasbeenblamedinmanyquartersfornothavingtakentheveil.Itwasexpectedofher.ButDonaAntoniaisnotthestufftheymakenunsof.BishopCorbelan,heruncle,liveswithherintheCorbelantownhouse.Heisafiercesortofpriest,everlastinglyworryingtheGovernmentabouttheoldChurchlandsandconvents.IbelievetheythinkalotofhiminRome.NowletusgototheAmarillaClub,justacrossthePlaza,togetsomelunch.”

           Directlyoutsidethecathedralontheverytopofthenobleflightofsteps,hisvoicerosepompously,hisarmfoundagainitssweepinggesture.

           “Porvenir,overthereonthatfirstfloor,abovethoseFrenchplate-glassshop-fronts;ourbiggestdaily.Conservative,or,rather,Ishouldsay,Parliamentary.WehavetheParliamentarypartyhereofwhichtheactualChiefoftheState,DonJusteLopez,isthehead;averysagaciousman,Ithink.Afirst-rateintellect,sir.TheDemocraticpartyinoppositionrestsmostly,Iamsorrytosay,onthesesocialisticItalians,sir,withtheirsecretsocieties,camorras,andsuch-like.