A transgression, a crime, entering a man's existence.

cats it up like a malignant growth, consumes it like a fever. Nosttomo had lost his T*mr- th of all his qualities e et t nimscll and often cursed the si ver of San Tomd. His cour- age, his magnificence, hi.s leisure, his work, every- thing was as before, only everything was a sham. But the treasure was real. He clung to it with a more tenacious mental grip. But he hated the feel of the ingots. Sometimes, after putting away a couple of them in his cabin the fruit of a secret night expe- dition to the Great Isabel he would look fixedly at his fingers, as if surprised they had left no stain on his skin. He had found means of disposing of the silver bars in distant ports. The necessity to go far afield made his coasting voyages long, and caused his visits to the Viola household to be rare and far between. He was fated to have his wife from there. He had said so once to Giorgio himself. But the Garibaldino had put the subject aside with a majestic wave of his hand, clutching a smouldering black briar-root pipe. There was plenty of time; he was not the man to force his girls upon anybody. As time went on, Nostromo discovered his prefer- ence for the younger of the two. They had some pro- found similarities of nature, which must exist for com- plete confidence and understanding, no matter what outward differences of temperament there may be to exercise their own fascination of contrast. His wife would have to know his secret, or else life would be

impossible. He was attracted by Giselle, with her