Page 591 - nostromo-a-tale-of-the-seaboard

Directly his schooner was anchored opposite the New
Custom House, with its sham air of a Greek temple, fla-
troofed, with a colonnade, Captain Fidanza went pulling
his small boat out of the harbour, bound for the Great Isabel,
openly in the light of a declining day, before all men’s eyes,
with a sense of having mastered the fates. He must establish
a regular position. He would ask him for his daughter now.
He thought of Giselle as he pulled. Linda loved him, per-
haps, but the old man would be glad to keep the elder, who
had his wife’s voice.
He did not pull for the narrow strand where he had land-
ed with Decoud, and afterwards alone on his first visit to
the treasure. He made for the beach at the other end, and
walked up the regular and gentle slope of the wedge-shaped
island. Giorgio Viola, whom he saw from afar, sitting on
a bench under the front wall of the cottage, lifted his arm
slightly to his loud hail. He walked up. Neither of the girls
appeared.
‘It is good here,’ said the old man, in his austere, far-away
manner.
Nostromo nodded; then, after a short silence—
‘You saw my schooner pass in not two hours ago? Do you
know why I am here before, so to speak, my anchor has fair-
ly bitten into the ground of this port of Sulaco?’
‘You are welcome like a son,’ the old man declared, qui-
etly, staring away upon the sea.
‘Ah! thy son. I know. I am what thy son would have been.
It is well, viejo. It is a very good welcome. Listen, I have
come to ask you for——‘

0 Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard