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

ecause whatever happened his honour of an old officerof Paez was safe. He had promised Charles Gould that atthe approach of an armed force he would defend the gorgejust long enough to give himself time to destroy scientificallythe whole plant, buildings, and workshops of the minewith heavy charges of dynamite; block with ruins the maintunnel, break down the pathways, blow up the dam of thewater-power, shatter the famous Gould Concession intofragments, flying sky high out of a horrified world. Themine had got hold of Charles Gould with a grip as deadlyas ever it had laid upon his father. But this extreme resolutionhad seemed to Don Pepe the most natural thing in theworld. His measures had been taken with judgment. Everythingwas prepared with a careful completeness. And DonPepe folded his hands pacifically on his sword hilt, and noddedat the priest. In his excitement, Father Roman had flungsnuff in handfuls at his face, and, all besmeared with tobacco,round-eyed, and beside himself, had got out of thehammock to walk about, uttering exclamations.Don Pepe stroked his grey and pendant moustache,whose fine ends hung far below the clean-cut line of his jaw,and spoke with a conscious pride in his reputation.‘So, Padre, I don’t know what will happen. But I knowthat as long as I am here Don Carlos can speak to that macaque,Pedrito Montero, and threaten the destruction of themine with perfect assurance that he will be taken seriously.For people know me.’He began to turn the cigar in his lips a little nervously,and went on—