Ностромо
Chapter 8
Itwasallmorevile,morebase,morecontemptible,andinfinitelymoremanageableintheveryoutspokencynicismofmotives.Itwasmoreclearlyabrazen-facedscrambleforaconstantlydiminishingquantityofbooty;sinceallenterprisehadbeenstupidlykilledintheland.ThusitcametopassthattheprovinceofSulaco,oncethefieldofcruelpartyvengeances,hadbecomeinawayoneoftheconsiderableprizesofpoliticalcareer.Thegreatoftheearth(inSta.Marta)reservedthepostsintheoldOccidentalStatetothosenearestanddearesttothem:nephews,brothers,husbandsoffavouritesisters,bosomfriends,trustysupporters—orprominentsupportersofwhomperhapstheywereafraid.Itwastheblessedprovinceofgreatopportunitiesandoflargestsalaries;fortheSanTomeminehaditsownunofficialpaylist,whoseitemsandamounts,fixedinconsultationbyCharlesGouldandSenorAvellanos,wereknowntoaprominentbusinessmanintheUnitedStates,whofortwentyminutesorsoineverymonthgavehisundividedattentiontoSulacoaffairs.Atthesametimethematerialinterestsofallsorts,backedupbytheinfluenceoftheSanTomemine,werequietlygatheringsubstanceinthatpartoftheRepublic.
