Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART THIRD: THE LIGHTHOUSE 11. CHAPTER ELEVEN (continued)

"Thanks to Nostromo," repeated Dr. Monygham. "Upon my word, the
fellow's power frightens me when I think of it. That our poor old
Mitchell was only too glad to appoint somebody trained to the
work, who saved him trouble, is not surprising. What is wonderful
is the fact that the Sulaco Cargadores accepted Ramirez for their
chief, simply because such was Nostromo's good pleasure. Of
course, he is not a second Nostromo, as he fondly imagined he
would be; but still, the position was brilliant enough. It
emboldened him to make up to Giselle Viola, who, you know, is the
recognized beauty of the town. The old Garibaldino, however, took
a violent dislike to him. I don't know why. Perhaps because he
was not a model of perfection like his Gian' Battista, the
incarnation of the courage, the fidelity, the honour of 'the
people.' Signor Viola does not think much of Sulaco natives. Both
of them, the old Spartan and that white-faced Linda, with her red
mouth and coal-black eyes, were looking rather fiercely after the
fair one. Ramirez was warned off. Father Viola, I am told,
threatened him with his gun once."

"But what of Giselle herself?" asked Mrs. Gould.

"She's a bit of a flirt, I believe," said the doctor. "I don't
think she cared much one way or another. Of course she likes
men's attentions. Ramirez was not the only one, let me tell you,
Mrs. Gould. There was one engineer, at least, on the railway
staff who got warned off with a gun, too. Old Viola does not
allow any trifling with his honour. He has grown uneasy and
suspicious since his wife died. He was very pleased to remove his
youngest girl away from the town. But look what happens, Mrs.
Gould. Ramirez, the honest, lovelorn swain, is forbidden the
island. Very well. He respects the prohibition, but naturally
turns his eyes frequently towards the Great Isabel. It seems as
though he had been in the habit of gazing late at night upon the
light. And during these sentimental vigils he discovers that
Nostromo, Captain Fidanza that is, returns very late from his
visits to the Violas. As late as midnight at times."

The doctor paused and stared meaningly at Mrs. Gould.

"Yes. But I don't understand," she began, looking puzzled.