Ностромо

           Histaciturnity,assumedwithapurpose,hadpreventedhimfromtamperingopenlywithhisthoughts;buttheGouldConcessionhadinsidiouslycorruptedhisjudgment.Hemighthaveknown,hesaidtohimself,leaningoverthebalustradeofthecorredor,thatRibierismcouldnevercometoanything.Theminehadcorruptedhisjudgmentbymakinghimsickofbribingandintriguingmerelytohavehisworkleftalonefromdaytoday.Likehisfather,hedidnotliketoberobbed.Itexasperatedhim.Hehadpersuadedhimselfthat,apartfromhigherconsiderations,thebackingupofDonJose’shopesofreformwasgoodbusiness.Hehadgoneforthintothesenselessfrayashispooruncle,whoseswordhungonthewallofhisstudy,hadgoneforth—inthedefenceofthecommonestdecenciesoforganizedsociety.Onlyhisweaponwasthewealthofthemine,morefar-reachingandsubtlethananhonestbladeofsteelfittedintoasimplebrassguard.

           Moredangeroustothewielder,too,thisweaponofwealth,double-edgedwiththecupidityandmiseryofmankind,steepedinallthevicesofself-indulgenceasinaconcoctionofpoisonousroots,taintingtheverycauseforwhichitisdrawn,alwaysreadytoturnawkwardlyinthehand.Therewasnothingforitnowbuttogoonusingit.Buthepromisedhimselftoseeitshatteredintosmallbitsbeforeheletitbewrenchedfromhisgrasp.