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Chapter 5
“Andwhydoeshetalklikethistome?”
Theengineer-in-chief,lookinginatthedooroftheemptysala,whencethepoliticaltidehadebbedouttothelastinsignificantdrop,noddedfamiliarlytothemasterofthehouse,standingmotionlesslikeatallbeaconamongstthedesertedshoalsoffurniture.
“Good-night,Iamgoing.Gotmybikedownstairs.Therailwaywillknowwheretogofordynamiteshouldwegetshortatanytime.Wehavedonecuttingandchoppingforawhilenow.Weshallbeginsoontoblastourwaythrough.”
“Don’tcometome,”saidCharlesGould,withperfectserenity.“Ishan’thaveanouncetospareforanybody.Notanounce.Notformyownbrother,ifIhadabrother,andheweretheengineer-in-chiefofthemostpromisingrailwayintheworld.”
“What’sthat?”askedtheengineer-in-chief,withequanimity.“Unkindness?”
“No,”saidCharlesGould,stolidly.“Policy.”
“Radical,Ishouldthink,”theengineer-in-chiefobservedfromthedoorway.
“Isthattherightname?”CharlesGouldsaid,fromthemiddleoftheroom.
“Imean,goingtotheroots,youknow,”theengineerexplained,withanairofenjoyment.
“Why,yes,”Charlespronounced,slowly.“TheGouldConcessionhasstrucksuchdeeprootsinthiscountry,inthisprovince,inthatgorgeofthemountains,thatnothingbutdynamiteshallbeallowedtodislodgeitfromthere
