Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
in gold, mind you—had ever asked me to do for him."
Directly his schooner was anchored opposite the new custom-house, with its sham air of a Greek temple, flat-roofed, with a colonnade, Captain Fidanza went pulling his small boat out of the harbor, 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, perhaps, but the old man would be glad to keep the eldest, who was like a daughter and wife in one.
He did not pull for the narrow strand where he had landed 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 fairly bitten into the ground of this port of Sulaco?"
"You are welcome like a son," the old man declared, quietly, staring away upon the sea.
"Ah! thy son. I know. I am what thy son would
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