Nostromo - A Tale of the Seaboard.pdf - Planet eBook

and motionless against the sun.Don Vincente Ribiera made a few steps under the deckawning,leaning on the arm of Senor Avellanos; a widecircle was formed round him, where the mirthless smile ofhis dark lips and the sightless glitter of his spectacles couldbe seen turning amiably from side to side. The informalfunction arranged on purpose on board the Juno to givethe President-Dictator an opportunity to meet intimatelysome of his most notable adherents in Sulaco was drawingto an end. On one side, General Montero, his bald headcovered now by a plumed cocked hat, remained motionlesson a skylight seat, a pair of big gauntleted hands folded onthe hilt of the sabre standing upright between his legs. Thewhite plume, the coppery tint of his broad face, the blueblackof the moustaches under the curved beak, the massof gold on sleeves and breast, the high shining boots withenormous spurs, the working nostrils, the imbecile anddomineering stare of the glorious victor of Rio Seco had inthem something ominous and incredible; the exaggerationof a cruel caricature, the fatuity of solemn masquerading,the atrocious grotesqueness of some military idol of Aztecconception and European bedecking, awaiting the homageof worshippers. Don Jose approached diplomatically thisweird and inscrutable portent, and Mrs. Gould turned herfascinated eyes away at last.Charles, coming up to take leave of Sir John, heard himsay, as he bent over his wife’s hand, ‘Certainly. Of course,my dear Mrs. Gould, for a protege of yours! Not the slightestdifficulty. Consider it done.’