Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART THIRD: THE LIGHTHOUSE 10. CHAPTER TEN (continued)

Captain Mitchell, with an expression as though making ready to
hear a sermon in a church, would lift the tiny cup to his lips.
And the nectar would be sipped to the bottom during a restful
silence in a cloud of cigar smoke.

"Look at this man in black just going out," he would begin,
leaning forward hastily. "This is the famous Hernandez, Minister
of War. The Times' special correspondent, who wrote that striking
series of letters calling the Occidental Republic the 'Treasure
House of the World,' gave a whole article to him and the force he
has organized--the renowned Carabineers of the Campo."

Captain Mitchell's guest, staring curiously, would see a figure
in a long-tailed black coat walking gravely, with downcast
eyelids in a long, composed face, a brow furrowed horizontally, a
pointed head, whose grey hair, thin at the top, combed down
carefully on all sides and rolled at the ends, fell low on the
neck and shoulders. This, then, was the famous bandit of whom
Europe had heard with interest. He put on a high-crowned sombrero
with a wide flat brim; a rosary of wooden beads was twisted about
his right wrist. And Captain Mitchell would proceed--

"The protector of the Sulaco refugees from the rage of Pedrito.
As general of cavalry with Barrios he distinguished himself at
the storming of Tonoro, where Senor Fuentes was killed with the
last remnant of the Monterists. He is the friend and humble
servant of Bishop Corbelan. Hears three Masses every day. I bet
you he will step into the cathedral to say a prayer or two on his
way home to his siesta."

He took several puffs at his cigar in silence; then, in his most
important manner, pronounced:

"The Spanish race, sir, is prolific of remarkable characters in
every rank of life. . . . I propose we go now into the
billiard-room, which is cool, for a quiet chat. There's never
anybody there till after five. I could tell you episodes of the
Separationist revolution that would astonish you. When the great
heat's over, we'll take a turn on the Alameda."

The programme went on relentless, like a law of Nature. The turn
on the Alameda was taken with slow steps and stately remarks.