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

proachable!’ And he laughed immoderately.Afterwards his sister was surprised at the earnestnessand ability he displayed in carrying out his mission, whichcircumstances made delicate, and his want of special knowledgerendered difficult. She had never seen Martin take somuch trouble about anything in his whole life.‘It amuses me,’ he had explained, briefly. ‘I am beset by alot of swindlers trying to sell all sorts of gaspipe weapons.They are charming; they invite me to expensive luncheons; Ikeep up their hopes; it’s extremely entertaining. Meanwhile,the real affair is being carried through in quite anotherquarter.’When the business was concluded he declared suddenlyhis intention of seeing the precious consignment deliveredsafely in Sulaco. The whole burlesque business, he thought,was worth following up to the end. He mumbled his excuses,tugging at his golden beard, before the acute young ladywho (after the first wide stare of astonishment) looked athim with narrowed eyes, and pronounced slowly—‘I believe you want to see Antonia.’‘What Antonia?’ asked the Costaguana boulevardier, ina vexed and disdainful tone. He shrugged his shoulders,and spun round on his heel. His sister called out after himjoyously—‘The Antonia you used to know when she wore her hairin two plaits down her back.’He had known her some eight years since, shortly beforethe Avellanos had left Europe for good, as a tall girl ofsixteen, youthfully austere, and of a character already so