Ностромо

           If,forinstance,theSulacoCollectorshipwasgenerallyunderstood,inthepoliticalworldofthecapital,toopenthewaytotheMinistryofFinance,andsoonforeveryofficialpost,then,ontheotherhand,thedespondentbusinesscirclesoftheRepublichadcometoconsidertheOccidentalProvinceasthepromisedlandofsafety,especiallyifamanmanagedtogetongoodtermswiththeadministrationofthemine.“CharlesGould;excellentfellow!Absolutelynecessarytomakesureofhimbeforetakingasinglestep.GetanintroductiontohimfromMoragaifyoucan—theagentoftheKingofSulaco,don’tyouknow.”

           Nowonder,then,thatSirJohn,comingfromEuropetosmooththepathforhisrailway,hadbeenmeetingthename(andeventhenickname)ofCharlesGouldateveryturninCostaguana.TheagentoftheSanTomeAdministrationinSta.Marta(apolished,well-informedgentleman,SirJohnthoughthim)hadcertainlyhelpedsogreatlyinbringingaboutthepresidentialtourthathebegantothinkthattherewassomethinginthefaintwhispershintingattheimmenseoccultinfluenceoftheGouldConcession.Whatwascurrentlywhisperedwasthis—thattheSanTomeAdministrationhad,inpart,atleast,financedthelastrevolution,whichhadbroughtintoafive-yeardictatorshipDonVincenteRibiera,amanofcultureandofunblemishedcharacter,investedwithamandateofreformbythebestelementsoftheState.