Ностромо
Chapter 8
Itwasuselesstosupposethat,acquaintedwiththetruestateofthecase,hewouldkeepittohimself.Hewouldtalkofdoingimpracticablethings.Nostromofearedhimasonewouldfearsaddlingone’sselfwithsomepersistentworry.Hehadnodiscretion.Hewouldbetraythetreasure.AndNostromohadmadeuphismindthatthetreasureshouldnotbebetrayed.
Thewordhadfixeditselftenaciouslyinhisintelligence.Hisimaginationhadseizedupontheclearandsimplenotionofbetrayaltoaccountforthedazedfeelingofenlightenmentastobeingdonefor,ofhavinginadvertentlygoneoutofhisexistenceonanissueinwhichhispersonalityhadnotbeentakenintoaccount.Amanbetrayedisamandestroyed.SignoraTeresa(mayGodhavehersoul!)hadbeenright.Hehadneverbeentakenintoaccount.Destroyed!Herwhiteformsittingupbowedinbed,thefallingblackhair,thewide-browedsufferingfaceraisedtohim,theangerofherdenunciationsappearedtohimnowmajesticwiththeawfulnessofinspirationandofdeath.Foritwasnotfornothingthattheevilbirdhaduttereditslamentableshriekoverhishead.Shewasdead—mayGodhavehersoul!
Sharingintheanti-priestlyfreethoughtofthemasses,hismindusedthepiousformulafromthesuperficialforceofhabit,butwithadeep-seatedsincerity.Thepopularmindisincapableofscepticism;andthatincapacitydeliverstheirhelplessstrengthtothewilesofswindlersandtothepitilessenthusiasmsofleadersinspiredbyvisionsofahighdestiny.Shewasdead.
