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

walking up the stairs as if in procession.Don Juste, astonishingly changed by having shaved offaltogether his damaged beard, had lost with it ninetenthsof his outward dignity. Even at that time of serious pre-occupationCharles Gould could not help noting the revealedineptitude in the aspect of the man. His companions lookedcrestfallen and sleepy. One kept on passing the tip of histongue over his parched lips; the other’s eyes strayed dullyover the tiled floor of the corredor, while Don Juste, standinga little in advance, harangued the Senor Administradorof the San Tome mine. It was his firm opinion that formshad to be observed. A new governor is always visited bydeputations from the Cabildo, which is the MunicipalCouncil, from the Consulado, the commercial Board, and itwas proper that the Provincial Assembly should send a deputation,too, if only to assert the existence of parliamentaryinstitutions. Don Juste proposed that Don Carlos Gould, asthe most prominent citizen of the province, should join theAssembly’s deputation. His position was exceptional, hispersonality known through the length and breadth of thewhole Republic. Official courtesies must not be neglected, ifthey are gone through with a bleeding heart. The acceptanceof accomplished facts may save yet the precious vestiges ofparliamentary institutions. Don Juste’s eyes glowed dully;he believed in parliamentary institutions—and the convinceddrone of his voice lost itself in the stillness of thehouse like the deep buzzing of some ponderous insect.Charles Gould had turned round to listen patiently, leaninghis elbow on the balustrade. He shook his head a little,