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

the man to formulate his conduct even to himself, perhaps,let alone to others. It may be that the game has been partlysuggested to him by Holroyd; but it accords with his character,too; and that is why it has been so successful. Haven’tthey come to calling him ‘El Rey de Sulaco’ in Sta. Marta? Anickname may be the best record of a success. That’s whatI call putting the face of a joke upon the body of a truth.My dear sir, when I first arrived in Sta. Marta I was struckby the way all those journalists, demagogues, members ofCongress, and all those generals and judges cringed beforea sleepy-eyed advocate without practice simply because hewas the plenipotentiary of the Gould Concession. Sir Johnwhen he came out was impressed, too.’‘A new State, with that plump dandy, Decoud, for the firstPresident,’ mused Dr. Monygham, nursing his cheek andswinging his legs all the time.‘Upon my word, and why not?’ the chief engineer retortedin an unexpectedly earnest and confidential voice. It wasas if something subtle in the air of Costaguana had inoculatedhim with the local faith in ‘pronunciamientos.’ All atonce he began to talk, like an expert revolutionist, of the instrumentready to hand in the intact army at Cayta, whichcould be brought back in a few days to Sulaco if only Decoudmanaged to make his way at once down the coast. Forthe military chief there was Barrios, who had nothing but abullet to expect from Montero, his former professional rivaland bitter enemy. Barrios’s concurrence was assured. As tohis army, it had nothing to expect from Montero either; noteven a month’s pay. From that point of view the existence of