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

pest in his ears in time to hear the name of Don Carlos. Heseemed to have come out of it a changed man—a man whospoke thoughtfully in a soft and even voice.‘And would Don Carlos have been content if I had surrenderedthis treasure?’‘I should not wonder if they were all of that way of thinkingnow,’ the doctor said, grimly. ‘I was never consulted.Decoud had it his own way. Their eyes are opened by thistime, I should think. I for one know that if that silver turnedup this moment miraculously ashore I would give it to Sotillo.And, as things stand, I would be approved.’‘Turned up miraculously,’ repeated the Capataz very low;then raised his voice. ‘That, senor, would be a greater miraclethan any saint could perform.’‘I believe you, Capataz,’ said the doctor, drily.He went on to develop his view of Sotillo’s dangerous influenceupon the situation. And the Capataz, listening as ifin a dream, felt himself of as little account as the indistinct,motionless shape of the dead man whom he saw uprightunder the beam, with his air of listening also, disregarded,forgotten, like a terrible example of neglect.‘Was it for an unconsidered and foolish whim that theycame to me, then?’ he interrupted suddenly. ‘Had I not doneenough for them to be of some account, por Dios? Is it thatthe hombres finos—the gentlemen—need not think as longas there is a man of the people ready to risk his body andsoul? Or, perhaps, we have no souls—like dogs?’‘There was Decoud, too, with his plan,’ the doctor remindedhim again.