Chapter 11

           SULACOoutstrippedNostromo’sprudence,growingrichswiftlyonthehiddentreasuresoftheearth,hoveredoverbytheanxiousspiritsofgoodandevil,tornoutbythelabouringhandsofthepeople.Itwaslikeasecondyouth,likeanewlife,fullofpromise,ofunrest,oftoil,scatteringlavishlyitswealthtothefourcornersofanexcitedworld.Materialchangessweptalonginthetrainofmaterialinterests.Andotherchangesmoresubtle,outwardlyunmarked,affectedthemindsandheartsoftheworkers.CaptainMitchellhadgonehometoliveonhissavingsinvestedintheSanTomemine;andDr.Monyghamhadgrownolder,withhisheadsteel-greyandtheunchangedexpressionofhisface,livingontheinexhaustibletreasureofhisdevotiondrawnuponinthesecretofhisheartlikeastoreofunlawfulwealth.

           TheInspector-GeneralofStateHospitals(whosemaintenanceisachargeupontheGouldConcession),OfficialAdviseronSanitationtotheMunicipality,ChiefMedicalOfficeroftheSanTomeConsolidatedMines(whoseterritory,containinggold,silver,copper,lead,cobalt,extendsformilesalongthefoot-hillsoftheCordillera),hadfeltpoverty-stricken,miserable,andstarvedduringtheprolonged,secondvisittheGouldspaidtoEuropeandtheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Intimateofthecasa,provedfriend,abachelorwithouttiesandwithoutestablishment(exceptoftheprofessionalsort),hehadbeenaskedtotakeuphisquartersintheGouldhouse.