Ностромо
Chapter 8
Hecouldrememberhimapennilessoutcast,slinkingaboutthestreetsofSulaco,withoutasinglefriendoracquaintance,tillDonCarlosGouldtookhimintotheserviceofthemine.
“Youmaybeverywise,”hewenton,thoughtfully,staringintotheobscurityoftheroom,pervadedbythegruesomeenigmaofthetorturedandmurderedHirsch.“ButIamnotsuchafoolaswhenIstarted.Ihavelearnedonethingsince,andthatisthatyouareadangerousman.”
Dr.Monyghamwastoostartledtodomorethanexclaim—
“Whatisityousay?”
“Ifhecouldspeakhewouldsaythesamething,”pursuedNostromo,withanodofhisshadowyheadsilhouettedagainstthestarlitwindow.
“Idonotunderstandyou,”saidDr.Monygham,faintly.
“No?Perhaps,ifyouhadnotconfirmedSotilloinhismadness,hewouldhavebeeninnohastetogivetheestrapadetothatmiserableHirsch.”
Thedoctorstartedatthesuggestion.Buthisdevotion,absorbingallhissensibilities,hadlefthisheartsteeledagainstremorseandpity.Still,forcompleterelief,hefeltthenecessityofrepellingitloudlyandcontemptuously.
“Bah!Youdaretotellmethat,withamanlikeSotillo.IconfessIdidnotgiveathoughttoHirsch.IfIhaditwouldhavebeenuseless.Anybodycanseethatthelucklesswretchwasdoomedfromthemomenthecaughtholdoftheanchor