Ностромо

           Onthecontrary,hetriedtomakefriendswiththatrichCostaguanerofromEuropeinthehopeofborrowingalargesumby-and-by.Theonlyguidingmotiveofhislifewastogetmoneyforthesatisfactionofhisexpensivetastes,whichheindulgedrecklessly,havingnoself-control.Heimaginedhimselfamasterofintrigue,buthiscorruptionwasassimpleasananimalinstinct.Attimes,insolitude,hehadhismomentsofferocity,andalsoonsuchoccasionsas,forinstance,whenaloneinaroomwithAnzanitryingtogetaloan.

           HehadtalkedhimselfintothecommandoftheEsmeraldagarrison.ThatsmallseaporthaditsimportanceasthestationofthemainsubmarinecableconnectingtheOccidentalProvinceswiththeouterworld,andthejunctionwithitoftheSulacobranch.DonJoseAvellanosproposedhim,andBarrios,witharudeandjeeringguffaw,hadsaid,“Oh,letSotillogo.Heisaverygoodmantokeepguardoverthecable,andtheladiesofEsmeraldaoughttohavetheirturn.”Barrios,anindubitablybraveman,hadnogreatopinionofSotillo.

           ItwasthroughtheEsmeraldacablealonethattheSanTomeminecouldbekeptinconstanttouchwiththegreatfinancier,whosetacitapprovalmadethestrengthoftheRibieristmovement.Thismovementhaditsadversarieseventhere.SotillogovernedEsmeraldawithrepressiveseveritytilltheadversecourseofeventsuponthedistanttheatreofcivilwarforceduponhimthereflectionthat,afterall,thegreatsilverminewasfatedtobecomethespoilofthevictors.