Ностромо
Chapter 2
“Afeeling,sir,”heexplained,“perfectlycomprehensibleinamanproperlygratefulforthemanykindnessesreceivedfromthebestfamiliesofmerchantsandothernativegentlemenofindependentmeans,who,barelysavedbyusfromtheexcessesofthemob,seemed,tomymind’seye,destinedtobecomethepreyinpersonandfortuneofthenativesoldiery,which,asiswellknown,behavewithregrettablebarbaritytotheinhabitantsduringtheircivilcommotions.Andthen,sir,thereweretheGoulds,forbothofwhom,manandwife,Icouldnotbutentertainthewarmestfeelingsdeservedbytheirhospitalityandkindness.Ifelt,too,thedangersofthegentlemenoftheAmarillaClub,whohadmademehonorarymember,andhadtreatedmewithuniformregardandcivility,bothinmycapacityofConsularAgentandasSuperintendentofanimportantSteamService.MissAntoniaAvellanos,themostbeautifulandaccomplishedyoungladywhomithadeverbeenmyprivilegetospeakto,wasnotalittleinmymind,Iconfess.HowtheinterestsofmyCompanywouldbeaffectedbytheimpendingchangeofofficialsclaimedalargeshareofmyattention,too.Inshort,sir,Iwasextremelyanxiousandverytired,asyoumaysuppose,bytheexcitingandmemorableeventsinwhichIhadtakenmylittlepart.