Ностромо
Chapter 2
Hisstruggles,hiswriggles,hisattemptstogetdownonhisknees,followedbythemostviolenteffortstobreakaway,asifhemeantincontinentlytojumpoverboard,hisshrieksandshrinkingsandcoweringwildglanceshadfilledthemfirstwithamazement,thenwithadoubtofhisgenuineness,asmenarewonttosuspectthesincerityofeverygreatpassion.HisSpanish,too,becamesomixedupwithGermanthatthebetterhalfofhisstatementsremainedincomprehensible.Hetriedtopropitiatethembycallingthemhochwohlgeborenherren,whichinitselfsoundedsuspicious.WhenadmonishedsternlynottotrifleherepeatedhisentreatiesandprotestationsofloyaltyandinnocenceagaininGerman,obstinately,becausehewasnotawareinwhatlanguagehewasspeaking.Hisidentity,ofcourse,wasperfectlyknownasaninhabitantofEsmeralda,butthismadethematternoclearer.AshekeptonforgettingDecoud’sname,mixinghimupwithseveralotherpeoplehehadseenintheCasaGould,itlookedasiftheyallhadbeeninthelightertogether;andforamomentSotillothoughtthathehaddrownedeveryprominentRibieristofSulaco.Theimprobabilityofsuchathingthrewadoubtuponthewholestatement.Hirschwaseithermadorplayingapart—pretendingfearanddistractiononthespurofthemomenttocoverthetruth.Sotillo’srapacity,excitedtothehighestpitchbytheprospectofanimmensebooty,couldbelieveinnothingadverse.
