Ностромо
Chapter 3
However,theseRibierists,ofwhomwehearsomuchjustnow,arereallytryingintheirowncomicalwaytomakethecountryhabitable,andeventopaysomeofitsdebts.Myfriends,youhadbetterwriteupSenorRibieraallyoucaninkindnesstoyourownbondholders.Really,ifwhatIamtoldinmylettersistrue,thereissomechanceforthematlast.”
AndhewouldexplainwithrailingvervewhatDonVincenteRibierastoodfor—amournfullittlemanoppressedbyhisowngoodintentions,thesignificanceofbattleswon,whoMonterowas(ungrotesquevaniteuxetferoce),andthemannerofthenewloanconnectedwithrailwaydevelopment,andthecolonizationofvasttractsoflandinonegreatfinancialscheme.
AndhisFrenchfriendswouldremarkthatevidentlythislittlefellowDecoudconnaissaitlaquestionafond.AnimportantParisianreviewaskedhimforanarticleonthesituation.Itwascomposedinaserioustoneandinaspiritoflevity.Afterwardsheaskedoneofhisintimates—
“HaveyoureadmythingabouttheregenerationofCostaguana—unebonneblague,hein?”
HeimaginedhimselfParisiantothetipsofhisfingers.Butfarfrombeingthathewasindangerofremainingasortofnondescriptdilettanteallhislife.Hehadpushedthehabitofuniversalraillerytoapointwhereitblindedhimtothegenuineimpulsesofhisownnature.
