Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
Señora Gould's carriage." said Nostromo. "I doubt if, with all his wisdom, he can save the padrona time. They have sent for the children. A bad sign that."
He sat down on the end of a bench. "She wants to give them her blessing. I suppose."
Dazedly Decoud observed that he must have fallen sound asleep, and Nostromo said, with a vague smile, that he had looked in at the window and had seen him lying still across the table with his head on his arms. The English señora had also come in the carriage, and went up-stairs at once with the doctor. She had told him not to wake up Don Martin yet; but when they sent for the children he had come into the café.
The half of the horse with its half of the rider swung round outside the door; the torch of tow and resin in the iron basket which was carried on a stick at the saddle-bow flared right into the room for a moment, and Mrs. Gould entered hastily with a very white, tired face. The hood of her dark-blue cloak had fallen back. Both men rose.
"Teresa wants to see you, Nottromo." she said.
The capataz did not move. Decoud. with his back to the table, began to button up his coat.
"The silver, Mrs. Gould, the silver." he murmured in English. "Don't forget that the Esmeralda garrison have got a steamer. They may appear at any moment at the harbor entrance."
The doctor says there is no hope," Mrs. Gould spoke rapidly, also in English. "I shall take you down to the wharf in my carriage and then come back to fetch away the girls." She changed swiftly into Span-
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