Ностромо

           “Anyslightsignoffavourfromarelativeofyoursiswelcome,Antonia.Andperhapsheunderstandsme,afterall!ButIknowhim,too,ourPadreCorbelan.Theideaofpoliticalhonour,justice,andhonestyforhimconsistsintherestitutionoftheconfiscatedChurchproperty.NothingelsecouldhavedrawnthatfierceconverterofsavageIndiansoutofthewildstoworkfortheRibieristcause!Nothingelsebutthatwildhope!HewouldmakeapronunciamientohimselfforsuchanobjectagainstanyGovernmentifhecouldonlygetfollowers!WhatdoesDonCarlosGouldthinkofthat?But,ofcourse,withhisEnglishimpenetrability,nobodycantellwhathethinks.Probablyhethinksofnothingapartfromhismine;ofhis‘ImperiuminImperio.’AstoMrs.Gould,shethinksofherschools,ofherhospitals,ofthemotherswiththeyoungbabies,ofeverysickoldmaninthethreevillages.Ifyouweretoturnyourheadnowyouwouldseeherextractingareportfromthatsinisterdoctorinacheckshirt—what’shisname?Monygham—orelsecatechisingDonPepeorperhapslisteningtoPadreRoman.Theyarealldownhereto-day—allherministersofstate.Well,sheisasensiblewoman,andperhapsDonCarlosisasensibleman.It’sapartofsolidEnglishsensenottothinktoomuch;toseeonlywhatmaybeofpracticaluseatthemoment.Thesepeoplearenotlikeourselves.Wehavenopoliticalreason;wehavepoliticalpassions—sometimes.Whatisaconviction?Aparticularviewofourpersonaladvantageeitherpracticaloremotional.