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

woman being plunged into mourning.‘Yes,’ the doctor, who had been apparently reflecting, beganagain, ‘he believed me right enough. I thought he wouldhave hugged me. ‘Si, si,’ he said, ‘he will write to that partnerof his, the rich Americano in San Francisco, that it is alllost. Why not? There is enough to share with many people.’’‘But this is perfectly imbecile!’ cried Captain Mitchell.The doctor remarked that Sotillo was imbecile, and thathis imbecility was ingenious enough to lead him completelyastray. He had helped him only but a little way.‘I mentioned,’ the doctor said, ‘in a sort of casual way,that treasure is generally buried in the earth rather than setafloat upon the sea. At this my Sotillo slapped his forehead.‘Por Dios, yes,’ he said; ‘they must have buried it on theshores of this harbour somewhere before they sailed out.’’‘Heavens and earth!’ muttered Captain Mitchell, ‘I shouldnot have believed that anybody could be ass enough—‘ Hepaused, then went on mournfully: ‘But what’s the good ofall this? It would have been a clever enough lie if the lighterhad been still afloat. It would have kept that inconceivableidiot perhaps from sending out the steamer to cruise in thegulf. That was the danger that worried me no end.’ CaptainMitchell sighed profoundly.‘I had an object,’ the doctor pronounced, slowly.‘Had you?’ muttered Captain Mitchell. ‘Well, that’s lucky,or else I would have thought that you went on fooling himfor the fun of the thing. And perhaps that was your object.Well, I must say I personally wouldn’t condescend tothat sort of thing. It is not to my taste. No, no. Blackening a