Ностромо
Chapter 4
Whensherejoinedthetwomeninthediningroomafterhavingbathedherface,CharlesGouldwassayingtothedoctoracrossthetable—
“No,theredoesnotseemanyroomfordoubt.”
Andthedoctorassented.
“No,Idon’tseemyselfhowwecouldquestionthatwretchedHirsch’stale.It’sonlytootrue,Ifear.”
Shesatdowndesolatelyattheheadofthetableandlookedfromonetotheother.Thetwomen,withoutabsolutelyturningtheirheadsaway,triedtoavoidherglance.Thedoctorevenmadeashowofbeinghungry;heseizedhisknifeandfork,andbegantoeatwithemphasis,asifonthestage.CharlesGouldmadenopretenceofthesort;withhiselbowsraisedsquarely,hetwistedbothendsofhisflamingmoustaches—theyweresolongthathishandswerequiteawayfromhisface.
“Iamnotsurprised,”hemuttered,abandoninghismoustachesandthrowingonearmoverthebackofhischair.Hisfacewascalmwiththatimmobilityofexpressionwhichbetraystheintensityofamentalstruggle.Hefeltthatthisaccidenthadbroughttoapointalltheconsequencesinvolvedinhislineofconduct,withitsconsciousandsubconsciousintentions.Theremustbeanendnowofthissilentreserve,ofthatairofimpenetrabilitybehindwhichhehadbeensafeguardinghisdignity.Itwastheleastignobleformofdissemblingforceduponhimbythatparodyofcivilizedinstitutionswhichoffendedhisintelligence,hisuprightness,andhissenseofright.
