Ностромо
Chapter 6
Hehadwalkedstraightoutoftownwiththenews,straightoutbeforehiminthenoondaysunonthewhiteroad,andhisfeethadbroughthimfacetofacewithherinthehalloftheruinedpalazzo,aroommagnificentandnaked,withhereandtherealongstripofdamask,blackwithdampandage,hangingdownonabarepanelofthewall.Itwasfurnishedwithexactlyonegiltarmchair,withabrokenback,andanoctagoncolumnarstandbearingaheavymarblevaseornamentedwithsculpturedmasksandgarlandsofflowers,andcrackedfromtoptobottom.CharlesGouldwasdustywiththewhitedustoftheroadlyingonhisboots,onhisshoulders,onhiscapwithtwopeaks.Waterdrippedfromunderitalloverhisface,andhegraspedathickoakencudgelinhisbarerighthand.
Shewentverypaleundertherosesofherbigstrawhat,gloved,swingingaclearsunshade,caughtjustasshewasgoingouttomeethimatthebottomofthehill,wherethreepoplarsstandnearthewallofavineyard.
“Ithaskilledhim!”herepeated.“Heoughttohavehadmanyyearsyet.Wearealong-livedfamily.”
Shewastoostartledtosayanything;hewascontemplatingwithapenetratingandmotionlessstarethecrackedmarbleurnasthoughhehadresolvedtofixitsshapeforeverinhismemory.
