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

the wall, and narrow enough to be defended by one managainst twenty enemies, came the murmur of two voices,one faint and broken, the other deep and gentle answeringit, and in its graver tone covering the weaker sound.The two men remained still and silent till the murmursceased, then the doctor shrugged his shoulders andmuttered—‘Yes, she’s bound to. And I could do nothing if I went upnow.’A long period of silence above and below ensued.‘I fancy,’ began the engineer, in a subdued voice, ‘that youmistrust Captain Mitchell’s Capataz.’‘Mistrust him!’ muttered the doctor through his teeth.‘I believe him capable of anything—even of the most absurdfidelity. I am the last person he spoke to before he leftthe wharf, you know. The poor woman up there wanted tosee him, and I let him go up to her. The dying must not becontradicted, you know. She seemed then fairly calm andresigned, but the scoundrel in those ten minutes or so hasdone or said something which seems to have driven her intodespair. You know,’ went on the doctor, hesitatingly, ‘womenare so very unaccountable in every position, and at all timesof life, that I thought sometimes she was in a way, don’t yousee? in love with him—the Capataz. The rascal has his owncharm indubitably, or he would not have made the conquestof all the populace of the town. No, no, I am not absurd. Imay have given a wrong name to some strong sentiment forhim on her part, to an unreasonable and simple attitude awoman is apt to take up emotionally towards a man. She