Nostromo - A Tale of the Seaboard.pdf - Planet eBook

something unlawful behind his priesthood, the idea of achaplain of bandits.He separated his bony, knotted hands clasped behind hisback, to shake his finger at Martin.Decoud had stepped into the room after Antonia. Buthe did not go far. He had remained just within, against thecurtain, with an expression of not quite genuine gravity,like a grown-up person taking part in a game of children.He gazed quietly at the threatening finger.‘I have watched your reverence converting General Barriosby a special sermon on the Plaza,’ he said, withoutmaking the slightest movement.‘What miserable nonsense!’ Father Corbelan’s deep voiceresounded all over the room, making all the heads turn onthe shoulders. ‘The man is a drunkard. Senores, the God ofyour General is a bottle!’His contemptuous, arbitrary voice caused an uneasysuspension of every sound, as if the self-confidence of thegathering had been staggered by a blow. But nobody tookup Father Corbelan’s declaration.It was known that Father Corbelan had come out of thewilds to advocate the sacred rights of the Church with thesame fanatical fearlessness with which he had gone preachingto bloodthirsty savages, devoid of human compassionor worship of any kind. Rumours of legendary proportionstold of his successes as a missionary beyond the eye ofChristian men. He had baptized whole nations of Indians,living with them like a savage himself. It was related thatthe padre used to ride with his Indians for days, half na-