Ностромо
Chapter 9
Itwouldrenderimpossibleasystematicsearchforthattreasure,forthatwealthofsilverwhichheseemedtofeelsomewhereabout,toscentsomewherenear.
Butwhere?Where?Heavens!Where?Oh!whyhadheallowedthatdoctortogo!Imbecilethathewas.Butno!Itwastheonlyrightcourse,hereflecteddistractedly,whilethemessengerwaiteddownstairschattingagreeablytotheofficers.Itwasinthatscoundrellydoctor’strueinteresttoreturnwithpositiveinformation.Butwhatifanythingstoppedhim?Ageneralprohibitiontoleavethetown,forinstance!Therewouldbepatrols!
Thecolonel,seizinghisheadinhishands,turnedinhistracksasifstruckwithvertigo.AflashofcraveninspirationsuggestedtohimanexpedientnotunknowntoEuropeanstatesmenwhentheywishtodelayadifficultnegotiation.Bootedandspurred,hescrambledintothehammockwithundignifiedhaste.Hishandsomefacehadturnedyellowwiththestrainofweightycares.Theridgeofhisshapelynosehadgrownsharp;theaudaciousnostrilsappearedmeanandpinched.Thevelvety,caressingglanceofhisfineeyesseemeddead,andevendecomposed;forthesealmond-shaped,languishingorbshadbecomeinappropriatelybloodshotwithmuchsinistersleeplessness.HeaddressedthesurprisedenvoyofSenorFuentesinadeadened,exhaustedvoice.Itcamepatheticallyfeeblefromunderapileofponchos,whichburiedhiselegantpersonrightuptotheblackmoustaches,uncurled,pendant,insignofbodilyprostrationandmentalincapacity.
