Ностромо
Chapter 3
Tobesuddenlyselectedfortheexecutivememberofthepatrioticsmall-armscommitteeofSulacoseemedtohimtheheightoftheunexpected,oneofthosefantasticmovesofwhichonlyhis“dearcountrymen”werecapable.
“It’slikeatilefallingonmyhead.I—I—executivemember!It’sthefirstIhearofit!WhatdoIknowofmilitaryrifles?C’estfunambulesque!”hehadexclaimedtohisfavouritesister;fortheDecoudfamily—excepttheoldfatherandmother—usedtheFrenchlanguageamongstthemselves.“Andyoushouldseetheexplanatoryandconfidentialletter!Eightpagesofit—noless!”
Thisletter,inAntonia’shandwriting,wassignedbyDonJose,whoappealedtothe“youngandgiftedCostaguanero”onpublicgrounds,andprivatelyopenedhishearttohistalentedgod-son,amanofwealthandleisure,withwiderelations,andbyhisparentageandbringing-upworthyofallconfidence.
“Whichmeans,”Martincommented,cynically,tohissister,“thatIamnotlikelytomisappropriatethefunds,orgoblabbingtoourCharged’Affaireshere.”
ThewholethingwasbeingcarriedoutbehindthebackoftheWarMinister,Montero,amistrustedmemberoftheRibieraGovernment,butdifficulttogetridofatonce.HewasnottoknowanythingofittillthetroopsunderBarrios’scommandhadthenewrifleintheirhands.ThePresident-Dictator,whosepositionwasverydifficult,wasaloneinthesecret.
