Ностромо

           Idon’tknowwhy.PerhapsbecausehewasnotamodelofperfectionlikehisGian’Battista,theincarnationofthecourage,thefidelity,thehonourof‘thepeople.’SignorVioladoesnotthinkmuchofSulaconatives.Bothofthem,theoldSpartanandthatwhite-facedLinda,withherredmouthandcoal-blackeyes,werelookingratherfiercelyafterthefairone.Ramirezwaswarnedoff.FatherViola,Iamtold,threatenedhimwithhisgunonce.”

           “ButwhatofGiselleherself?”askedMrs.Gould.

           “She’sabitofaflirt,Ibelieve,”saidthedoctor.“Idon’tthinkshecaredmuchonewayoranother.Ofcourseshelikesmen’sattentions.Ramirezwasnottheonlyone,letmetellyou,Mrs.Gould.Therewasoneengineer,atleast,ontherailwaystaffwhogotwarnedoffwithagun,too.OldVioladoesnotallowanytriflingwithhishonour.Hehasgrownuneasyandsuspicioussincehiswifedied.Hewasverypleasedtoremovehisyoungestgirlawayfromthetown.Butlookwhathappens,Mrs.Gould.Ramirez,thehonest,lovelornswain,isforbiddentheisland.Verywell.Herespectstheprohibition,butnaturallyturnshiseyesfrequentlytowardstheGreatIsabel.Itseemsasthoughhehadbeeninthehabitofgazinglateatnightuponthelight.AndduringthesesentimentalvigilshediscoversthatNostromo,CaptainFidanzathatis,returnsverylatefromhisvisitstotheViolas.Aslateasmidnightattimes.”

           ThedoctorpausedandstaredmeaninglyatMrs.Gould.

           “Yes.