Ностромо
Chapter 5
”
Thepriestsuppressedagestureofdiscouragement.“Youbelieveneitherinsticknorstone,”hesaid.
“Norbottle,”addedDecoudwithoutstirring.“Neitherdoestheotherofyourreverence’sconfidants.ImeantheCapatazoftheCargadores.Hedoesnotdrink.Yourreadingofmycharacterdoeshonourtoyourperspicacity.Butwhycallmeaheathen?”
“True,”retortedthepriest.“Youaretentimesworse.Amiraclecouldnotconvertyou.”
“Icertainlydonotbelieveinmiracles,”saidDecoud,quietly.FatherCorbelanshruggedhishigh,broadshouldersdoubtfully.
“AsortofFrenchman—godless—amaterialist,”hepronouncedslowly,asifweighingthetermsofacarefulanalysis.“Neitherthesonofhisowncountrynorofanyother,”hecontinued,thoughtfully.
“Scarcelyhuman,infact,”Decoudcommentedunderhisbreath,hisheadatrestagainstthewall,hiseyesgazingupattheceiling.
“Thevictimofthisfaithlessage,”FatherCorbelanresumedinadeepbutsubduedvoice.
“Butofsomeuseasajournalist.”Decoudchangedhisposeandspokeinamoreanimatedtone.“HasyourworshipneglectedtoreadthelastnumberofthePorvenir?Iassureyouitisjustliketheothers.OnthegeneralpolicyitcontinuestocallMonteroagran’bestia,andstigmatizehisbrother,theguerrillero,foracombinationoflackeyandspy.
