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

subject whatever.’‘No,’ said Captain Mitchell, simply, and with evident depression.‘A man locked up in a confounded dark hole is notmuch use to anybody.’‘As to old Viola,’ the doctor continued, as though he hadnot heard, ‘Sotillo released him for the same reason he ispresently going to release you.’‘Eh? What?’ exclaimed Captain Mitchell, staring like anowl in the darkness. ‘What is there in common betweenme and old Viola? More likely because the old chap has nowatch and chain for the pickpocket to steal. And I tell youwhat, Dr. Monygham,’ he went on with rising choler, ‘hewill find it more difficult than he thinks to get rid of me.He will burn his fingers over that job yet, I can tell you. Tobegin with, I won’t go without my watch, and as to the rest—we shall see. I dare say it is no great matter for you to belocked up. But Joe Mitchell is a different kind of man, sir. Idon’t mean to submit tamely to insult and robbery. I am apublic character, sir.’And then Captain Mitchell became aware that the barsof the opening had become visible, a black grating upona square of grey. The coming of the day silenced CaptainMitchell as if by the reflection that now in all the futuredays he would be deprived of the invaluable services of hisCapataz. He leaned against the wall with his arms foldedon his breast, and the doctor walked up and down thewhole length of the place with his peculiar hobbling gait,as if slinking about on damaged feet. At the end furthestfrom the grating he would be lost altogether in the darkness.