Ностромо
Chapter 1
”
“Ifthat’sallheissureof,thenheissureofnothing,”saidthedoctor.Hehadperchedhimselfagainontheendofthetable.Henursedhischeekinthepalmofonehand,whiletheothersustainedtheelbow.“Itisthelastthingamanoughttobesureof.”Thecandle,half-consumedandburningdimlywithalongwick,lightedupfrombelowhisinclinedface,whoseexpressionaffectedbythedrawn-incicatricesinthecheeks,hadsomethingvaguelyunnatural,anexaggeratedremorsefulbitterness.Ashesattherehehadtheairofmeditatinguponsinisterthings.Theengineer-in-chiefgazedathimforatimebeforeheprotested.
“Ireallydon’tseethat.Formethereseemstobenothingelse.However——”
Hewasawiseman,buthecouldnotquiteconcealhiscontemptforthatsortofparadox;infact.Dr.MonyghamwasnotlikedbytheEuropeansofSulaco.Hisoutwardaspectofanoutcast,whichhepreservedeveninMrs.Gould’sdrawing-room,provokedunfavourablecriticism.Therecouldbenodoubtofhisintelligence;andashehadlivedforovertwentyyearsinthecountry,thepessimismofhisoutlookcouldnotbealtogetherignored.Butinstinctively,inself-defenceoftheiractivitiesandhopes,hishearersputittotheaccountofsomehiddenimperfectionintheman’scharacter.Itwasknownthatmanyyearsbefore,whenquiteyoung,hehadbeenmadebyGuzmanBentochiefmedicalofficerofthearmy.
