Ностромо
Chapter 6
Oneofhisfrequentremarkswas,“IthinksometimesthatpoorfathertakesawrongviewofthatSanTomebusiness.”Andtheydiscussedthatopinionlongandearnestly,asiftheycouldinfluenceamindacrosshalftheglobe;butinrealitytheydiscusseditbecausethesentimentoflovecanenterintoanysubjectandliveardentlyinremotephrases.ForthisnaturalreasonthesediscussionswereprecioustoMrs.Gouldinherengagedstate.CharlesfearedthatMr.Gould,senior,waswastinghisstrengthandmakinghimselfillbyhiseffortstogetridoftheConcession.“Ifancythatthisisnotthekindofhandlingitrequires,”hemusedaloud,asiftohimself.Andwhenshewonderedfranklythatamanofcharactershoulddevotehisenergiestoplottingandintrigues,Charleswouldremark,withagentleconcernthatunderstoodherwonder,“Youmustnotforgetthathewasbornthere.”
Shewouldsetherquickmindtoworkuponthat,andthenmaketheinconsequentretort,whichheacceptedasperfectlysagacious,because,infact,itwasso—
“Well,andyou?Youwerebornthere,too.”
Heknewhisanswer.
“That’sdifferent.I’vebeenawaytenyears.Dadneverhadsuchalongspell;anditwasmorethanthirtyyearsago.”
Shewasthefirstpersontowhomheopenedhislipsafterreceivingthenewsofhisfather’sdeath.
“Ithaskilledhim!”hesaid.
