The scene that follows is a metaphor for the relationship between the People and
their taskmasters. Nostromo, as always, represents the common People -- the mass
of toiling mankind who provide the labor for the great dream-ideals such as progress.
Paquita represents the Ruler -- her golden comb is superior to Nostromo's silver.
Their relationship is presented as a love affair in which both sides need and
scorn the other at the same time. In this case, Nostromo is trying to pull away
from the relationship -- the People feeling the first stirrings of the "labor
troubles" that will arise under material progress -- but Paquita seduces
him back.