Ностромо
Chapter 1
CharlesGould’sposition—acommandingpositioninthebackgroundofthatattempttoretrievethepeaceandthecreditoftheRepublic—wasveryclear.Atthebeginninghehadhadtoaccommodatehimselftoexistingcircumstancesofcorruptionsonaivelybrazenastodisarmthehateofamancourageousenoughnottobeafraidofitsirresponsiblepotencytoruineverythingittouched.Itseemedtohimtoocontemptibleforhotangereven.Hemadeuseofitwithacold,fearlessscorn,manifestedratherthanconcealedbytheformsofstonycourtesywhichdidawaywithmuchoftheignominyofthesituation.Atbottom,perhaps,hesufferedfromit,forhewasnotamanofcowardlyillusions,butherefusedtodiscusstheethicalviewwithhiswife.Hetrustedthat,thoughalittledisenchanted,shewouldbeintelligentenoughtounderstandthathischaractersafeguardedtheenterpriseoftheirlivesasmuchormorethanhispolicy.Theextraordinarydevelopmentoftheminehadputagreatpowerintohishands.Tofeelthatprosperityalwaysatthemercyofunintelligentgreedhadgrownirksometohim.ToMrs.Goulditwashumiliating.Atanyrate,itwasdangerous.IntheconfidentialcommunicationspassingbetweenCharlesGould,theKingofSulaco,andtheheadofthesilverandsteelinterestsfarawayinCalifornia,theconvictionwasgrowingthatanyattemptmadebymenofeducationandintegrityoughttobediscreetlysupported.“YoumaytellyourfriendAvellanosthatIthinkso,”Mr
