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

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

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‘Radical, I should think,’ <strong>the</strong> engineer-in-chief observedfrom <strong>the</strong> doorway.‘Is that <strong>the</strong> right name?’ Charles Gould said, from <strong>the</strong>middle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room.‘I mean, going to <strong>the</strong> roots, you know,’ <strong>the</strong> engineer explained,with an air <strong>of</strong> enjoyment.‘Why, yes,’ Charles pronounced, slowly. ‘The Gould Concessionhas struck such deep roots in this country, in thisprovince, in that gorge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mountains, that nothing butdynamite shall be allowed to dislodge it from <strong>the</strong>re. It’s mychoice. It’s my last card to play.’The engineer-in-chief whistled low. ‘A pretty game,’ hesaid, with a shade <strong>of</strong> discretion. ‘And have you told Holroyd<strong>of</strong> that extraordinary trump card you hold in your hand?’‘Card only when it’s played; when it falls at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>game. Till <strong>the</strong>n you may call it a—a—‘‘Weapon,’ suggested <strong>the</strong> railway man.‘No. You may call it ra<strong>the</strong>r an argument,’ correctedCharles Gould, gently. ‘And that’s how I’ve presented it toMr. Holroyd.’‘And what did he say to it?’ asked <strong>the</strong> engineer, with undisguisedinterest.‘He’—Charles Gould spoke after a slight pause—‘he saidsomething about holding on like grim death and puttingour trust in God. I should imagine he must have been ra<strong>the</strong>rstartled. But <strong>the</strong>n’—pursued <strong>the</strong> Administrador <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> SanTome mine—‘but <strong>the</strong>n, he is very far away, you know, and,as <strong>the</strong>y say in this country, God is very high above.’The engineer’s appreciative laugh died away down <strong>the</strong>

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