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

its value for ever…. An incorruptible metal,’ he repeated, asif the idea had given him a profound pleasure.‘As some men are said to be,’ Decoud pronounced, inscrutably,while the Capataz, who busied himself in balingout the lighter with a wooden bucket, went on throwing thewater over the side with a regular splash. Decoud, incorrigiblein his scepticism, reflected, not cynically, but withgeneral satisfaction, that this man was made incorruptibleby his enormous vanity, that finest form of egoism whichcan take on the aspect of every virtue.Nostromo ceased baling, and, as if struck with a suddenthought, dropped the bucket with a clatter into the lighter.‘Have you any message?’ he asked in a lowered voice. ‘Remember,I shall be asked questions.’‘You must find the hopeful words that ought to be spokento the people in town. I trust for that your intelligence andyour experience, Capataz. You understand?’‘Si, senor…. For the ladies.’‘Yes, yes,’ said Decoud, hastily. ‘Your wonderful reputationwill make them attach great value to your words;therefore be careful what you say. I am looking forward,’he continued, feeling the fatal touch of contempt for himselfto which his complex nature was subject, ‘I am lookingforward to a glorious and successful ending to my mission.Do you hear, Capataz? Use the words glorious and successfulwhen you speak to the senorita. Your own mission isaccomplished gloriously and successfully. You have indubitablysaved the silver of the mine. Not only this silver, butprobably all the silver that shall ever come out of it.’