Ностромо

           “Ha!OldGiorgio—theguardianofthinehonour!FancytheVecchiocominguponmesolightoffoot,sosteadyofaim.Imyselfcouldhavedonenobetter.Butthepriceofachargeofpowdermighthavebeensaved.Thehonourwassafe....Senora,shewouldhavefollowedtotheendoftheworldNostromothethief....Ihavesaidtheword.Thespellisbroken!”

           Alowmoanfromthegirlmadehimcasthiseyesdown.

           “Icannotseeher....Nomatter,”hewenton,withtheshadowoftheoldmagnificentcarelessnessinhisvoice.“Onekissisenough,ifthereisnotimeformore.Anairysoul,senora!Brightandwarm,likesunshine—soonclouded,andsoonserene.Theywouldcrushittherebetweenthem.Senora,castonhertheeyeofyourcompassion,asfamedfromoneendofthelandtotheotherasthecourageanddaringofthemanwhospeakstoyou.Shewillconsoleherselfintime.AndevenRamirezisnotabadfellow.Iamnotangry.No!ItisnotRamirezwhoovercametheCapatazoftheSulacoCargadores.”Hepaused,madeaneffort,andinloudervoice,alittlewildly,declared—

           “Idiebetrayed—betrayedby——”

           Buthedidnotsaybywhomorbywhathewasdyingbetrayed.

           “Shewouldnothavebetrayedme,”hebeganagain,openinghiseyesverywide.“Shewasfaithful.Weweregoingveryfar—verysoon.Icouldhavetornmyselfawayfromthataccursedtreasureforher.