Ностромо
Chapter 7
Hedisapprovedofthedoctor’ssensitivenessaboutthatfar-offepisodeofhislife.SomuchmemoryshockedCharlesGould.Itwaslikemorbidness.Andagainheshookhishead.HerefusedtotamperwiththeopenrectitudeofDonPepe’sconduct,bothfromtasteandfrompolicy.Instructionswouldhavetobeeitherverbalorinwriting.Ineithercasetheyrantheriskofbeingintercepted.Itwasbynomeanscertainthatamessengercouldreachthemine;and,besides,therewasnoonetosend.ItwasonthetipofCharles’stonguetosaythatonlythelateCapatazdeCargadorescouldhavebeenemployedwithsomechanceofsuccessandthecertitudeofdiscretion.Buthedidnotsaythat.Hepointedouttothedoctorthatitwouldhavebeenbadpolicy.DirectlyDonPepeletitbesupposedthathecouldbeboughtover,theAdministrador’spersonalsafetyandthesafetyofhisfriendswouldbecomeendangered.Fortherewouldbethennoreasonformoderation.TheincorruptibilityofDonPepewastheessentialandrestrainingfact.Thedoctorhunghisheadandadmittedthatinawayitwasso.
Hecouldn’tdenytohimselfthatthereasoningwassoundenough.DonPepe’susefulnessconsistedinhisunstainedcharacter.Astohisownusefulness,hereflectedbitterlyitwasalsohisowncharacter.HedeclaredtoCharlesGouldthathehadthemeansofkeepingSotillofromjoininghisforceswithMontero,atleastforthepresent.
