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Chapter 8
“Si!AndtherichmaninSanFranciscowhohadsomethingtodowiththattreasure,too—whatdoIknow?No!Ihaveheardtoomanythings.Itseemstomethateverythingispermittedtotherich.”
“Iunderstand,Capataz,”thedoctorbegan.
“WhatCapataz?”brokeinNostromo,inaforciblebutevenvoice.“TheCapatazisundone,destroyed.ThereisnoCapataz.Oh,no!YouwillfindtheCapataznomore.”
“Come,thisischildish!”remonstratedthedoctor;andtheothercalmeddownsuddenly.
“Ihavebeenindeedlikealittlechild,”hemuttered.
Andashiseyesmetagaintheshapeofthemurderedmansuspendedinhisawfulimmobility,whichseemedtheuncomplainingimmobilityofattention,heasked,wonderinggently—
“WhydidSotillogivetheestrapadetothispitifulwretch?Doyouknow?Notorturecouldhavebeenworsethanhisfear.KillingIcanunderstand.Hisanguishwasintolerabletobehold.Butwhyshouldhetormenthimlikethis?Hecouldtellnomore.”
“No;hecouldtellnothingmore.Anysanemanwouldhaveseenthat.Hehadtoldhimeverything.ButItellyouwhatitis,Capataz.Sotillowouldnotbelievewhathewastold.Noteverything.”
“Whatisithewouldnotbelieve?Icannotunderstand.”
“Ican,becauseIhaveseentheman.Herefusestobelievethatthetreasureislost.