Ностромо
Chapter 6
AndaFrenchphrasecameuponthemasif,forthisCostaguanerooftheBoulevard,thathadbeentheonlyforciblelanguage—
“Non,Madame.Rienn’estperdu.”
ItelectrifiedMrs.Gouldoutofherbenumbedattitude,andshesaid,vivaciously—
“Whatwouldyouthinkofdoing?”
ButalreadytherewassomethingofmockeryinDecoud’ssuppressedexcitement.
“WhatwouldyouexpectatrueCostaguanerotodo?Anotherrevolution,ofcourse.Onmywordofhonour,Mrs.Gould,IbelieveIamatruehijodelpays,atruesonofthecountry,whateverFatherCorbelanmaysay.AndI’mnotsomuchofanunbelieverasnottohavefaithinmyownideas,inmyownremedies,inmyowndesires.”
“Yes,”saidMrs.Gould,doubtfully.
“Youdon’tseemconvinced,”DecoudwentonagaininFrench.“Say,then,inmypassions.”
Mrs.Gouldreceivedthisadditionunflinchingly.Tounderstanditthoroughlyshedidnotrequiretohearhismutteredassurance—
“ThereisnothingIwouldnotdoforthesakeofAntonia.ThereisnothingIamnotpreparedtoundertake.ThereisnoriskIamnotreadytorun.”
Decoudseemedtofindafreshaudacityinthisvoicingofhisthoughts.
