Ностромо

           HewasanAmericanhimself,afterall,andperhapshecouldunderstandbothkindsofeloquence—“ifitwereworthwhiletotry,”headded,grimly.ButhehadbreathedtheairofEnglandlongerthananyofhispeoplehaddoneforthreegenerations,andreallyhebeggedtobeexcused.Hispoorfathercouldbeeloquent,too.Andheaskedhiswifewhethersherememberedapassageinoneofhisfather’slastletterswhereMr.Gouldhadexpressedtheconvictionthat“Godlookedwrathfullyatthesecountries,orelseHewouldletsomerayofhopefallthroughariftintheappallingdarknessofintrigue,bloodshed,andcrimethathungovertheQueenofContinents.”

           Mrs.Gouldhadnotforgotten.“Youreadittome,Charley,”shemurmured.“Itwasastrikingpronouncement.Howdeeplyyourfathermusthavefeltitsterriblesadness!”

           “Hedidnotliketoberobbed.Itexasperatedhim,”saidCharlesGould.“Buttheimagewillservewellenough.Whatiswantedhereislaw,goodfaith,order,security.Anyonecandeclaimaboutthesethings,butIpinmyfaithtomaterialinterests.Onlyletthematerialinterestsoncegetafirmfooting,andtheyareboundtoimposetheconditionsonwhichalonetheycancontinuetoexist.That’showyourmoney-makingisjustifiedhereinthefaceoflawlessnessanddisorder.Itisjustifiedbecausethesecuritywhichitdemandsmustbesharedwithanoppressedpeople.Abetterjusticewillcomeafterwards.That’syourrayofhope.