Ностромо

           Therewereknick-knacksonlittletables,mirrorsletintothewallabovemarbleconsoles,squarespacesofcarpetunderthetwogroupsofarmchairs,eachpresidedoverbyadeepsofa;smallerrugsscatteredalloverthefloorofredtiles;threewindowsfromtheceilingdowntotheground,openingonabalcony,andflankedbytheperpendicularfoldsofthedarkhangings.Thestatelinessofancientdayslingeredbetweenthefourhigh,smoothwalls,tintedadelicateprimrose-colour;andMrs.Gould,withherlittleheadandshiningcoilsofhair,sittinginacloudofmuslinandlacebeforeaslendermahoganytable,resembledafairyposedlightlybeforedaintyphiltresdispensedoutofvesselsofsilverandporcelain.

           Mrs.GouldknewthehistoryoftheSanTomemine.Workedintheearlydaysmostlybymeansoflashesonthebacksofslaves,itsyieldhadbeenpaidforinitsownweightofhumanbones.WholetribesofIndianshadperishedintheexploitation;andthentheminewasabandoned,sincewiththisprimitivemethodithadceasedtomakeaprofitablereturn,nomatterhowmanycorpseswerethrownintoitsmaw.Thenitbecameforgotten.ItwasrediscoveredaftertheWarofIndependence.AnEnglishcompanyobtainedtherighttoworkit,andfoundsorichaveinthatneithertheexactionsofsuccessivegovernments,northeperiodicalraidsofrecruitingofficersuponthepopulationofpaidminerstheyhadcreated,coulddiscouragetheirperseverance.