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

‘Teresa wants to see you, Nostromo,’ she said. The Capatazdid not move. Decoud, with his back to the table, beganto button up his coat.‘The silver, Mrs. Gould, the silver,’ he murmured in English.‘Don’t forget that the Esmeralda garrison have got asteamer. They may appear at any moment at the harbourentrance.’‘The doctor says there is no hope,’ Mrs. Gould spoke rapidly,also in English. ‘I shall take you down to the wharf inmy carriage and then come back to fetch away the girls.’ Shechanged swiftly into Spanish to address Nostromo. ‘Whyare you wasting time? Old Giorgio’s wife wishes to see you.’‘I am going to her, senora,’ muttered the Capataz. Dr.Monygham now showed himself, bringing back the children.To Mrs. Gould’s inquiring glance he only shook hishead and went outside at once, followed by Nostromo.The horse of the torch-bearer, motionless, hung his headlow, and the rider had dropped the reins to light a cigarette.The glare of the torch played on the front of the housecrossed by the big black letters of its inscription in whichonly the word ITALIA was lighted fully. The patch of waveringglare reached as far as Mrs. Gould’s carriage waitingon the road, with the yellow-faced, portly Ignacio apparentlydozing on the box. By his side Basilio, dark and skinny,held a Winchester carbine in front of him, with both hands,and peered fearfully into the darkness. Nostromo touchedlightly the doctor’s shoulder.‘Is she really dying, senor doctor?’‘Yes,’ said the doctor, with a strange twitch of his scarred