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

nothing of his opening speech; and Captain Fidanza, lavishlygenerous as usual to some poor comrades, made nospeech at all. He had listened, frowning, with his mind faraway, and walked off unapproachable, silent, like a man fullof cares.His frown deepened as, in the early morning, he watchedthe stone-masons go off to the Great Isabel, in lighters loadedwith squared blocks of stone, enough to add anothercourse to the squat light-tower. That was the rate of thework. One course per day.And Captain Fidanza meditated. The presence of strangerson the island would cut him completely off the treasure.It had been difficult and dangerous enough before. He wasafraid, and he was angry. He thought with the resolution ofa master and the cunning of a cowed slave. Then he wentashore.He was a man of resource and ingenuity; and, as usual,the expedient he found at a critical moment was effectiveenough to alter the situation radically. He had the gift ofevolving safety out of the very danger, this incomparableNostromo, this ‘fellow in a thousand.’ With Giorgio establishedon the Great Isabel, there would be no need forconcealment. He would be able to go openly, in daylight,to see his daughters—one of his daughters—and stay latetalking to the old Garibaldino. Then in the dark … Nightafter night … He would dare to grow rich quicker now. Heyearned to clasp, embrace, absorb, subjugate in unquestionedpossession this treasure, whose tyranny had weighedupon his mind, his actions, his very sleep.