Ностромо
Chapter 8
Andsilverisanincorruptiblemetalthatcanbetrustedtokeepitsvalueforever....Anincorruptiblemetal,”herepeated,asiftheideahadgivenhimaprofoundpleasure.
“Assomemenaresaidtobe,”Decoudpronounced,inscrutably,whiletheCapataz,whobusiedhimselfinbalingoutthelighterwithawoodenbucket,wentonthrowingthewateroverthesidewitharegularsplash.Decoud,incorrigibleinhisscepticism,reflected,notcynically,butwithgeneralsatisfaction,thatthismanwasmadeincorruptiblebyhisenormousvanity,thatfinestformofegoismwhichcantakeontheaspectofeveryvirtue.
Nostromoceasedbaling,and,asifstruckwithasuddenthought,droppedthebucketwithaclatterintothelighter.
“Haveyouanymessage?”heaskedinaloweredvoice.“Remember,Ishallbeaskedquestions.”
“Youmustfindthehopefulwordsthatoughttobespokentothepeopleintown.Itrustforthatyourintelligenceandyourexperience,Capataz.Youunderstand?”
“Si,senor....Fortheladies.”
“Yes,yes,”saidDecoud,hastily.“Yourwonderfulreputationwillmakethemattachgreatvaluetoyourwords;thereforebecarefulwhatyousay.Iamlookingforward,”hecontinued,feelingthefataltouchofcontemptforhimselftowhichhiscomplexnaturewassubject,“Iamlookingforwardtoagloriousandsuccessfulendingtomymission.
