Ностромо

           However,theseRibierists,ofwhomwehearsomuchjustnow,arereallytryingintheirowncomicalwaytomakethecountryhabitable,andeventopaysomeofitsdebts.Myfriends,youhadbetterwriteupSenorRibieraallyoucaninkindnesstoyourownbondholders.Really,ifwhatIamtoldinmylettersistrue,thereissomechanceforthematlast.”

           AndhewouldexplainwithrailingvervewhatDonVincenteRibierastoodfor—amournfullittlemanoppressedbyhisowngoodintentions,thesignificanceofbattleswon,whoMonterowas(ungrotesquevaniteuxetferoce),andthemannerofthenewloanconnectedwithrailwaydevelopment,andthecolonizationofvasttractsoflandinonegreatfinancialscheme.

           AndhisFrenchfriendswouldremarkthatevidentlythislittlefellowDecoudconnaissaitlaquestionafond.AnimportantParisianreviewaskedhimforanarticleonthesituation.Itwascomposedinaserioustoneandinaspiritoflevity.Afterwardsheaskedoneofhisintimates—

           “HaveyoureadmythingabouttheregenerationofCostaguana—unebonneblague,hein?”

           HeimaginedhimselfParisiantothetipsofhisfingers.Butfarfrombeingthathewasindangerofremainingasortofnondescriptdilettanteallhislife.Hehadpushedthehabitofuniversalraillerytoapointwhereitblindedhimtothegenuineimpulsesofhisownnature.