Ностромо
Chapter 1
Somuchdefianteccentricityandsuchanoutspokenscornformankindseemedtopointtomererecklessnessofjudgment,thebravadoofguilt.Besides,sincehehadbecomeagainofsomeaccount,vaguewhispershadbeenheardthatyearsago,whenfallenintodisgraceandthrownintoprisonbyGuzmanBentoatthetimeoftheso-calledGreatConspiracy,hehadbetrayedsomeofhisbestfriendsamongsttheconspirators.Nobodypretendedtobelievethatwhisper;thewholestoryoftheGreatConspiracywashopelesslyinvolvedandobscure;itisadmittedinCostaguanathatthereneverhadbeenaconspiracyexceptinthediseasedimaginationoftheTyrant;and,therefore,nothingandnoonetobetray;thoughthemostdistinguishedCostaguaneroshadbeenimprisonedandexecuteduponthataccusation.Theprocedurehaddraggedonforyears,decimatingthebetterclasslikeapestilence.Themereexpressionofsorrowforthefateofexecutedkinsmenhadbeenpunishedwithdeath.DonJoseAvellanoswasperhapstheonlyonelivingwhoknewthewholestoryofthoseunspeakablecruelties.Hehadsufferedfromthemhimself,andhe,withashrugoftheshouldersandanervous,jerkygestureofthearm,waswonttoputawayfromhim,asitwere,everyallusiontoit.Butwhateverthereason,Dr.Monygham,apersonageintheadministrationoftheGouldConcession,treatedwithreverentawebytheminers,andindulgedinhispeculiaritiesbyMrs.Gould,remainedsomehowoutsidethepale.
