Ностромо
Chapter 4
Heevenpushedhisattentionssofarastodesiretheaide-de-campathisside(athick-set,shortcaptainwithaTartarphysiognomy)tobringalongacorporalwithafileofmeninfrontofthecarriage,lestthecrowdinitsbackwardsurgesshould“incommodethemulesofthesenora.”Then,turningtothesmallknotofsilentEuropeanslookingonwithinearshot,heraisedhisvoiceprotectingly—
“Senores,havenoapprehension.GoonquietlymakingyourFerroCarril—yourrailways,yourtelegraphs.Your—There’senoughwealthinCostaguanatopayforeverything—orelseyouwouldnotbehere.Ha!ha!Don’tmindthislittlepicardiaofmyfriendMontero.Inalittlewhileyoushallbeholdhisdyedmoustachesthroughthebarsofastrongwoodencage.Si,senores!Fearnothing,developthecountry,work,work!”
Thelittlegroupofengineersreceivedthisexhortationwithoutaword,andafterwavinghishandatthemloftily,headdressedhimselfagaintoMrs.Gould—
“ThatiswhatDonJosesayswemustdo.Beenterprising!Work!Growrich!ToputMonteroinacageismywork;andwhenthatinsignificantpieceofbusinessisdone,then,asDonJosewishesus,weshallgrowrich,oneandall,likesomanyEnglishmen,becauseitismoneythatsavesacountry,and—”
Butayoungofficerinaverynewuniform,hurryingupfromthedirectionofthejetty,interruptedhisinterpretationofSenorAvellanos’sideals.