Ностромо
Chapter 7
Alongcourseofreadinghistoricalworks,lightandgossipyintone,carriedoutingarretsofParisianhotels,sprawlingonanuntidybed,totheneglectofhisduties,menialorotherwise,hadaffectedthemannersofPedroMontero.HadheseenaroundhimthesplendouroftheoldIntendencia,themagnificenthangings,thegiltfurniturerangedalongthewalls;hadhestooduponadaisonanoblesquareofredcarpet,hewouldhaveprobablybeenverydangerousfromasenseofsuccessandelevation.Butinthissackedanddevastatedresidence,withthethreepiecesofcommonfurniturehuddledupinthemiddleofthevastapartment,Pedrito’simaginationwassubduedbyafeelingofinsecurityandimpermanence.ThatfeelingandthefirmattitudeofCharlesGouldwhohadnotonce,sofar,pronouncedtheword“Excellency,”diminishedhiminhisowneyes.Heassumedthetoneofanenlightenedmanoftheworld,andbeggedCharlesGouldtodismissfromhismindeverycauseforalarm.Hewasnowconversing,heremindedhim,withthebrotherofthemasterofthecountry,chargedwithareorganizingmission.Thetrustedbrotherofthemasterofthecountry,herepeated.Nothingwasfurtherfromthethoughtsofthatwiseandpatrioticherothanideasofdestruction.“Ientreatyou,DonCarlos,nottogivewaytoyouranti-democraticprejudices,”hecried,inaburstofcondescendingeffusion.
