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

the one which they say is guarded by ghosts and devils onAzuera. It is true. I am resolved to make this the most desperateaffair I was ever engaged on in my whole life.’She felt a despairing indignation. The supreme test hadfailed. Standing above her, Nostromo did not see the distortedfeatures of her face, distorted by a paroxysm of painand anger. Only she began to tremble all over. Her bowedhead shook. The broad shoulders quivered.‘Then God, perhaps, will have mercy upon me! But doyou look to it, man, that you get something for yourself outof it, besides the remorse that shall overtake you some day.’She laughed feebly. ‘Get riches at least for once, you indispensable,admired Gian’ Battista, to whom the peace ofa dying woman is less than the praise of people who havegiven you a silly name—and nothing besides—in exchangefor your soul and body.’The Capataz de Cargadores swore to himself under hisbreath.‘Leave my soul alone, Padrona, and I shall know how totake care of my body. Where is the harm of people havingneed of me? What are you envying me that I have robbedyou and the children of? Those very people you are throwingin my teeth have done more for old Giorgio than theyever thought of doing for me.’He struck his breast with his open palm; his voice hadremained low though he had spoken in a forcible tone. Hetwisted his moustaches one after another, and his eyes wandereda little about the room.‘Is it my fault that I am the only man for their purposes?